Locigno v. 425 W. Bagley, Inc. , 2016 Ohio 5924 ( 2016 )

[Cite as Locigno v. 425 W. Bagley, Inc., 2016-Ohio-5924.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 103379
NATALIE LOCIGNO
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
vs.
425 WEST BAGLEY, INC., ET AL.
DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-06-594535
BEFORE: Jones, A.J., McCormack, J., and S. Gallagher, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 22, 2016
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Stephen McGowan
19211 Westbrooke Lane
Strongsville, Ohio 44149
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
In Son J. Loving
Lewis A. Zipkin
Zipkin Whiting Co., L.P.A.
3637 South Green Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
James T. Schumacher
1419 West 9th Street, 2nd Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
David M. Smith
Mazanec Raskin, Ryder Co., L.P.A.
100 Franklin’s Row
34305 Solon Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44139
LARRY A. JONES, SR., A.J.:
{¶1} Defendants-appellants, 425 West Bagley Inc., and its owners, husband and
wife, Paul and Vivian Zacharias, and their son, Paul Zacharias, Jr., appeal the trial court’s
denial of their post-trial motions. We affirm.
{¶2} Plaintiff-appellee Natalie Locigno worked at Zach’s Steakhouse in Berea as a
bartender and server from March 2004 until January 2005. Zach’s was a “family”
restaurant and bar owned by the Zachariases. According to Locigno, Paul Sr. sexually
harassed her on an almost daily basis by asking her to kiss him, making sexual comments,
and touching her breasts and buttocks. Locigno alleged that she reported Paul Sr.’s
behavior to Vivian and Paul Jr., but they ignored her complaints.
{¶3} In 2006, Locigno filed suit against the Zachariases, alleging sexual
harassment, sexual discrimination, retaliation, negligent retention, and intentional
infliction of emotional distress. The matter proceeded to a jury trial.
{¶4} Locigno testified that when she arrived for her first day of work, Paul Sr.
asked for a “hello kiss.” She felt as though she had to give Paul Sr. a kiss during every
shift and during some of these kisses he would even try to put his tongue in her mouth.
His behavior was not limited to Locigno. Paul Sr. would tell the female waitstaff to “line
up” “for your good morning kiss.” Paul Sr. made numerous comments on Locigno’s
appearance and body and offered to buy her and the other female staff lingerie.
Throughout her employment at the restaurant, Paul Sr. touched, grabbed, or swatted
Locigno’s buttocks and breasts and made comments of a sexual nature.
{¶5} Locigno testified that Paul Jr., who also worked at the restaurant, once told her
that his penis was like a can of Red Bull and would often called her stupid. Paul Jr. kept
pornography on his office computer and would offer to show it to Locigno and other
employees. Paul Sr. kept adult magazines at the restaurant; one popular adult magazine
was delivered directly to the restaurant. Vivian denied that the magazine was delivered
to the restaurant, but Paul Jr. admitted that they received it on a monthly basis.
{¶6} Locigno reported the harassment by Paul Sr. to both Paul Jr. and Vivian, but
according to Locigno, they did nothing to change the atmosphere at the restaurant.
Vivian told Locigno she could get another job if she was not happy in her current position.
{¶7} Near the end of her employment with Zach’s, Locigno made a tape recording
of an encounter with Paul Sr. in his office. She told him that she did not feel comfortable
with him touching her. Paul Sr. responded, “I do it because I know it makes you feel
f***ed up and nervous.” He then asked her to give him a hug.
{¶8} Tanya Roberts, who worked at Zach’s around the same time as Locigno,
testified that she felt obligated to kiss Paul Sr. and witnessed him kiss and touch other
female servers, including Locigno. Roberts reported an incident of inappropriate
touching to Vivian, but according to Roberts, Vivian did not believe her and told Roberts
not to talk about it. Gina Gramuglia, who also worked at Zach’s around the same time as
Locigno, testified that she witnessed Paul Sr. kiss female servers and touch them on the
buttocks, use “foul language,” and “talk dirty” to female staff. Susan Scardino testified
that she worked at Zach’s and witnessed servers kissing Paul Sr. as they arrived for their
shifts and saw him grab the buttocks of female staff as they walked by his regular booth.
She also saw Paul Jr. watch porn in his office “at least once a week.”
{¶9} Vivian testified that she was at the restaurant five to six days a week, working
in the kitchen and always during the day. She denied she received complaints that Paul
Sr. kissed or inappropriately touched female staff. She admitted that Locigno approached
her shortly before she quit and she told Locigno that she could find another job if she was
not happy working at Zach’s.
{¶10} Paul Jr. testified that he worked everyday at Zach’s from morning to night,
either in the kitchen or in the office. He admitted to calling Locigno stupid. He
admitted that Locigno complained to him about having to kiss Paul Sr. and testified that he
sat his father down and had a talk with him about it.
{¶11} Paul Sr. testified that it was not a requirement for his female servers to kiss
him, but that he could not remember any that had worked for him that he had not kissed.
He admitted to offering to buy female employees clothing, lingerie, and jewelry. He
admitted to offering to buy Locigno a bra “[i]f she wanted one” because “she needed a
little sprucing up.” He denied ever touching Locigno’s breasts or buttocks, except maybe
by accident.
{¶12} The jury returned a verdict in favor of Locigno. The jury awarded $3,400 in
lost wages and $25,000 for pain and suffering on the sexual harassment claim against each
of the Zachariases and $50,000 in punitive damages against Paul Sr. plus attorney fees in
an amount to be determined by the court. After the jury verdict, the Zachariases moved
for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (“JNOV”), or in the alternative, for a mistrial or
a new trial. The trial court denied the motions. Locigno moved for attorney fees based
on the award of punitive damages, and the trial court awarded her $99,370 in attorney fees.
{¶13} The Zachariases appealed and raise three assignments of error for our review.
Further facts will be discussed under the appropriate assignments
of error.
I. The trial court erred by denying the individual defendants motions for
judgment notwithstanding the verdict and/or motions for a mistrial/new trial
based on prejudicial counsel misconduct during the trial and closing
argument.
II. The trial court committed plain error by erroneously changing the
burden of proof on punitive damages and attorneys fees from clear and
convincing to preponderance of the evidence on the interrogatories given to
the jury prior to their deliberations.
III. The trial court erred by engaging in ex parte communications with the
jury during their deliberations without notifying counsel where juror
misconduct was reported to the judge; the judge should have subjected the
jury to voir dire on the misconduct allegations.
I. Law and Analysis
A. JNOV and Motion for New Trial
{¶14} “A Civ.R. 50(B) motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict tests the
legal adequacy of the evidence * * * so it is based solely on the evidence produced at
trial.” (Citation omitted.) Jones v. MetroHealth Med. Ctr., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
102916, 2016-Ohio-4858, ¶ 21. It is a question of law that does not require the reviewing
court to weigh the evidence or test the credibility of witnesses. Di v. Cleveland Clinic
Found., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101760, 2016-Ohio-686, ¶ 40, citing Ruta v.
Breckenridge-Remy Co., 69 Ohio St.2d 66, 430 N.E.2d 935 (1982). A Civ.R. 59 motion
for a new trial, however, is generally reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard.
Shaw Steel, Inc. v. Ronfeldt Mfg., L.L.C., 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 102665,
2016-Ohio-1117, ¶ 33.
{¶15} The Zachariases argue that the trial court erred in denying their new trial
motion based on attorney misconduct and their JNOV motions based on insufficient
evidence as it relates to Vivian and Paul Jr. Because they do not challenge the court’s
denial of Paul Sr.’s motion for JNOV, we will not consider it.
1. Motion for New Trial
{¶16} Civ.R. 59(A)(2) states that a new trial may be granted due to misconduct of
the prevailing party. The Zachariases argue that opposing counsel improperly questioned
Vivian regarding previous complaints of sexual harassment against Paul Sr. and those
questions prejudiced the jury against them. During Vivian’s cross-examination, Locigno
attempted to introduce into evidence an uncertified copy of a complaint filed in federal
court that listed Paul Sr. as the defendant. As soon as Locigno referenced the document,
the court dismissed the jury and a lengthy discussion was had among the court and the
parties. The court ruled that Locigno could use the document to refresh Vivian’s
memory, but could not use it as extrinsic evidence to show that she had knowledge of prior
complaints of sexual harassment against Paul Sr.:
Court: Here’s what I’m going to let you ask her. I’m going to let you ask
her if she was aware of complaints by anyone as to this behavior.
Counsel for Locigno: Okay.
Court: And then I will let you refresh her recollection with this and see if
that refreshes her recollection. And then, at that point, she’s either going to
say yes it does * * * or she says no and then you’re done. And that’s it.
{¶17} In their post-trial motions, the Zachariases challenge the following
comments made during Vivian’s cross-examination:
Counsel for Locigno: Handing you what has been marked as Plaintiff’s
Exhibit 8, please read to yourself the front, please. Please turn to page two
and read paragraph six.
***
Counsel for Locigno: Were you aware of complaints by anyone about Paul
Zacharias’ behavior regarding being forced to kiss him prior to Natalie’s
complaint to you?
Vivian: No.
Counsel for Locigno: Now, please turn to page two and read to yourself
paragraphs six, seven, and eight. Does that refresh your recollection about
any prior complaints about Paul Zacharias asking his employees to kiss him?
Court: Sustained.
Counsel for Locigno: Does that refresh your recollection regarding your
previous answer?
Court: Sustained.
Counsel for Locigno: Would you read the rest?
Court: That’s not the question that I indicated you could ask.
Counsel for Locigno: Does this document refresh your recollection?
Vivian: No.
Counsel for Locigno: Okay, that’s all we’re going to do about that
particular document.
Counsel for Zacharias: Objection, Your Honor, for the commentary.
Court: Sustained. That will be stricken; the jury will ignore it.
{¶18} After Valerie’s testimony, one of the jurors submitted a question to the court
inquiring whether Paul Sr. had been “involved in a similar case before this trial.” The
court told the jury “we’ll not ask that.”
{¶19} A review of the record shows that no misconduct occurred. Counsel
attempted to use the federal court document to show that Vivian had prior knowledge of
Paul Sr.’s behavior. The trial court severely restricted the scope of counsel’s questions
and when counsel overstepped the court’s limitations, the court sustained objections.
{¶20} The Zachariases further claim that counsel deliberately interjected bias and
prejudice into the proceedings by referring to a tape recording during counsel’s closing
argument.
{¶21} During the trial, counsel for Locigno played the tape recording of the
conversation she had made in Paul Sr.’s office. While going over the evidence to be
submitted to the jury, the trial court decided that the tape itself would not go back to the
jury as evidence to use during its deliberations because of the poor quality of the
recording. The court reminded the parties that it had allowed the tape to be played during
trial “so let the jury determine what use it might be.” During closing arguments, counsel
for Locigno referenced the tape-recorded conversation and again played the tape for the
jury. In their post-trial motions, the Zachariases argue that the court erred in allowing
counsel to do so and counsel’s misconduct supports a new trial. We disagree.
{¶22} As a general rule, “great latitude is afforded counsel in the presentation of
closing argument to the jury.” Di, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 101760, 2016-Ohio-686, at ¶
104, citing Pang v. Minch, 53 Ohio St.3d 186, 194, 559 N.E.2d 1313 (1990). “‘[T]he
determination of whether the bounds of permissible argument have been exceeded is, in
the first instance, a discretionary function to be performed by the trial court. Therefore,
the trial court’s determination will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion.’” Di at ¶
105, citing Caruso v. Leneghan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99582, 2014-Ohio-1824, ¶ 57.
{¶23} We find that no abuse of discretion occurred in this case. Although the trial
court decided not to allow the tape to be submitted to the jury for the jury’s consideration,
the trial court had previously allowed the tape to be played for the jury; thus, the tape was
already in evidence. Counsel was commenting in closing arguments on what he believed
the evidence had shown, a permissible form of advocacy for his client.
{¶24} The Zachariases are unable to show that Locigno’s counsel’s actions rose to
the level of misconduct in order to justify a new trial, and the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying their motion.
2. JNOV
{¶25} Paul Jr. and Vivian argue that the trial court erred in denying their JNOV
motions.
{¶26} In order to establish a claim of hostile-environment sexual harassment, the
plaintiff must show:
(1) that the harassment was unwelcome, (2) that the harassment was based
on sex, (3) that the harassing conduct was sufficiently severe or pervasive to
affect the ‘terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or any matter
directly or indirectly related to employment,’ and (4) that either (a) the
harassment was committed by a supervisor, or (b) the employer, through its
agents or supervisory personnel, knew or should have known of the
harassment and failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action.
Hampel v. Food Ingredients Specialties, 89 Ohio St.3d 169, 175, 729 N.E.2d 726 (2000).
{¶27} In their JNOV motions and on appeal, Paul Jr. and Vivian focus on the fourth
prong, claiming that once Locigno advised them what Paul Sr. was doing, they told her she
no longer had to kiss Paul Sr. and the harassment ceased; therefore, the jury’s verdict was
unsupported by the evidence. The record, however, does not support their claims.
{¶28} Paul Jr., son of Paul Sr. and Vivian, held a supervisory position over
Locigno. The testimony at trial shows not only that he was aware of his father’s actions
towards Locigno and other female employees, but engaged in questionable behavior
himself.
{¶29} Locigno testified that Paul Jr. had pornography on his work computer, would
show it to her, and would ask her what she thought of it. Paul Jr. compared his penis to a
can of Red Bull and spelled out the word “s-e-x” to her because he knew she did not like
to discuss sex at work. Locigno testified that she complained to Paul Jr. about Paul Sr.
on a “handful of different occasions” and also complained about the way Paul Sr.’s friends
treated her in the restaurant. On one occasion, Locigno complained to Paul Jr. that there
were customers in the restaurant inappropriately touching her. Paul Jr. told his father,
“See Dad, you think you can touch the girls, that means your friends think they can touch
the girls, too.”
{¶30} Locigno testified that three weeks before she ended her employment, she
reported to Paul Jr. that Paul Sr. had again grabbed her breast and she did not like Paul Sr.
touching her or being made to kiss him. According to Locigno, Paul Jr. told her she was
“no longer” and “never required” to kiss or allow Paul Sr. to touch her. But Paul Sr. still
requested it, and Locigno “still did it” because she felt “intimidated, “obligated,” and
“guilty.”
{¶31} A review of the record also shows that Locigno presented sufficient evidence
that Vivian knew or should have known of the sexual harassment. Vivian co-owned
Zach’s with her husband and son. She and her husband had been married for 38 years
but had been separated and living apart for six or seven years. She worked in the kitchen
at Zach’s five to six days a week.
{¶32} Locigno testified about a conversation she had with Vivian a couple of weeks
before she left Zach’s, telling Vivian she “could not take it” anymore. According to
Locigno, Vivian responded, “I don’t blame you. I would have left, too” and then Vivian,
upset, “hissed” and walked away from her. Vivian recalled the conversation also,
claiming that she told Locigno that she should find another job if she was not happy at
Zach’s. When asked if Vivian knew whether Paul Sr. had touched Locigno on any other
occasions other than the one Locigno reported, Vivian testified: “I would think he did.
I would think he did.”
{¶33} Simply put, the testimony showed that inappropriate sexual harassment
permeated the work atmosphere at Zach’s, and was either known or should have been
known to Paul Jr. and Vivian.
{¶34} In light of the above, there was sufficient evidence to sustain Locigno’s claim
for sexual harassment against Paul Jr. and Vivian and, thus, the trial court did not err in
denying their JNOV motions.
{¶35} The first assignment of error is overruled.
B. Punitive Damages
{¶36} In the second assignment of error, the Zachariases argue that the trial court
improperly changed the burden of proof for punitive damages. According to the
Zachariases, the trial court gave inconsistent burdens of proof in the jury instructions and
interrogatories.
{¶37} As an initial matter, the Zachariases did not object to the jury instructions on
punitive damages or to any of the jury interrogatories. Civ.R. 51(A) provides that “[o]n
appeal, a party may not assign as error the giving or the failure to give any instruction
unless the party objects before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating specifically
the matter objected to and the grounds of the objection.” While it is true that even where
error is waived, reversal on appeal may be predicated on plain error. In a civil
proceeding, plain error involves those extremely rare cases where exceptional
circumstances require its application to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice, and
where the error complained of, if left uncorrected, would have a material, adverse effect
on the character of, and public confidence in, judicial proceedings. See Goldfuss v.
Davidson, 79 Ohio St.3d 116, 122, 679 N.E.2d 1099 (1997).
{¶38} The trial court has the duty to instruct the jury on the applicable law on all
issues raised by the pleadings and evidence, and it must give jury instructions that
correctly and completely state the law. Pallini v. Dankowski, 17 Ohio St.2d 51, 53, 245
N.E.2d 353 (1969). Jury instructions must be reviewed as a whole. Pastella v. Rite Aid,
7th Dist. Mahoning No. 93 C.A. 236, 1995 Ohio App. LEXIS 5741, *14 (Dec. 21, 1995).
Whether the jury instructions correctly state the law is a question of law, which we review
de novo. Murphy v. Carrollton Mfg. Co., 61 Ohio St.3d 585, 575 N.E.2d 828 (1991).
{¶39} Here, the trial court correctly instructed the jury that it must find by “clear
and convincing” evidence that Locigno was entitled to punitive damages pursuant to
R.C. 2315.21(D)(4), and gave the jury the definition of “clear and convincing.”1
{¶40} Civ.R. 49(B) governs the use of jury interrogatories in connection with a
general verdict. The purpose of jury interrogatories “‘is to elicit facts whereby the
correctness of the general verdict may be tested.”’ Waldron v. Miami Valley Hosp., 2d
1
“In a tort action, the burden of proof shall be upon a plaintiff in question, by clear and
convincing evidence, to establish that the plaintiff is entitled to recover punitive or exemplary
damages.” R.C. 2315.21(D)(4).
Dist. Montgomery No. 14108, 1994 Ohio App. LEXIS 5433, *27 (Dec. 7, 1994), quoting
Davison v. Flowers, 123 Ohio St. 89, 96 (1930).
{¶41} In relevant part, Civ.R. 49(B) reads:
The court shall submit written interrogatories to the jury, together with
appropriate forms for a general verdict, upon request of any party prior to the
commencement of argument. Counsel shall submit the proposed
interrogatories to the court and to opposing counsel at such time. The court
shall inform counsel of its proposed action upon the requests prior to their
arguments to the jury, but the interrogatories shall be submitted to the jury in
the form that the court approves.
{¶42} Locigno submitted proposed jury instructions and interrogatories to the court;
the Zachariases did not.
{¶43} Interrogatory No. 9 stated, in part: “[D]o you find by clear and convincing
evidence that defendant Paul Zacharias, Sr. exhibited a conscious disregard of Natalie
Locigno’s rights or safety that had a high probability of causing substantial damage?”
Interrogatory No. 10 stated, in part: “[D]o you find by a preponderance of the evidence
that punitive damages will be assessed?”
{¶44} Although interrogatory No. 10 incorrectly stated “preponderance of the
evidence” and was therefore in conflict with the jury instructions, in considering the
interrogatories as a whole, and in light of the jury instructions, we do not find that this is
one of those rare and exceptional cases in which the civil plain error standard applies.
{¶45} A jury is presumed to follow the instructions given it by the court. Grand
Trunk W. R.R. v. Cothern, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-93-112, 1995 Ohio App. LEXIS 926, *15
(Mar. 17, 1995). The court did not define “preponderance of the evidence” in its
instructions, but, as mentioned, it did correctly instruct on the “clear and convincing”
burden of proof. Thus, we must presume that the jury concluded by clear and convincing
evidence that Locigno was entitled to punitive damages.
{¶46} Thus, because the jury was instructed on the proper standard for punitive
damages, and was given a copy of the jury instruction for deliberation purposes, this court
will not find plain error in giving jury interrogatory No. 10 as it was written.
{¶47} The second assignment of error is overruled.
C. Ex Parte Communication
{¶48} In the third assignment of error, the Zachariases allege that the trial court
committed reversible error when it communicated with the jury ex parte.
{¶49} A trial court and the parties are prohibited from having ex parte
conversations with the jury. To prevail on a claim of prejudice due to an ex parte
communication between judge and jury, the complaining party must first produce some
evidence that a private contact, without full knowledge of the parties, occurred between
the judge and jurors that involved substantive matters. Orenski v. Zaremba Mgt. Co., 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 80402, 2002-Ohio-3101, ¶ 27, citing State v. Schiebel, 55 Ohio St.3d
71, 564 N.E.2d 54 (1990). Discussions involving substantive matters between a judge
and a juror could be those of legal issues involved in the case, applicable law, a charge to
the jury, or a fact in controversy. Orenski at id.{¶50} In Michelson v. Kravitz, 103 Ohio App.3d 301, 659 N.E.2d 359 (8th
Dist.1995), this court noted that, as a general rule, any communication between judge and
jury that takes place outside the presence of the defendant or parties to a case is error that
may warrant the ordering of a new trial, but that such an error is harmless where the ex
parte communication did not prejudice the appellant. Id. at 306.
{¶51} During jury deliberations in this case, the trial judge was driving to an
out-of-town judicial conference. The jury foreperson approached the trial judge’s bailiff
and gave the bailiff a letter. The bailiff gave the letter to another trial judge, who was
sitting in for the original trial judge. The substituting trial judge called the original trial
judge to discuss the letter. On the record, the original trial judge stated:
I determined at that point that this was a letter from the [jury] foreman
expressing his frustration with the jury deliberations. [The juror] did not ask
the court to do anything in particular. I [the original trial judge] interpreted
the letter as, again a statement of his frustrations and the difficulties with the
deliberations. At that juncture I decided that the jury should just continue
deliberating, frankly, with no response to this particular communication.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶52} The Zachariases claim that either the bailiff or the substituting trial judge
then “advised the jury to continue deliberating.” However, as the original trial judge
stated above, no communication was had with the jury. But even if the jury had been
advised to continue deliberating as the Zachariases contend, such communication was not
substantive. Moreover, the Zachariases have failed to show how the alleged
communication prejudiced them. In Michelson, supra, the trial court instructed the jury
to read the instructions already given to them. This court found there was “no possibility
that the jury’s conclusion was influenced by the trial court’s admonition. Accordingly,
the trial court’s ex parte communication was harmless error.” Id. at 306. Likewise, in
this case, there was no possibility that such an instruction, if given, influenced the jury.
{¶53} In light of the above, the third assignment of error is overruled.
{¶54} Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellants costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Cuyahoga
County Court of Common Pleas to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
LARRY A. JONES, SR., ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
TIM McCORMACK, J., CONCURS;
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., CONCURS WITH
SEPARATE OPINION
SEAN C. GALLAGHER, J., CONCURRING:
{¶55} Although I concur with the judgment of the majority, I have serious
concerns about how the juror communication was handled during deliberations. I
recognize the substitute judge and, for that matter, the bailiff were put in a difficult
situation with the trial judge being out of town at a Supreme Court meeting during the
deliberations. Nevertheless, why both counsel were not immediately notified of the
existence of the letter, its content, and the action to be taken is troubling.
{¶56} In this case the appellants’ counsel found out about the existence of the letter
not from the trial judge, the substitute trial judge, or the bailiff, but from the foreperson of
the jury, who called counsel on two separate occasions, apparently after the case
concluded.
{¶57} Appellants’ brief asserts the juror communication contained the following
information:
As the jury foreperson in this trial, I feel compelled to share the following
with you. It has come to a point in the trial where the jury agrees that there
was some degree of wrong doing by the Defendant and some agree that also
on the Plaintiff’s part. At this juncture, jurors have started to make
personal attacks on others and brought others’ children and even God and
Religion into their decision making process. Much to my dismay, one juror
has referred to two other jurors as pigs because they are business owners and
the Defendant is a business owner. One has taken a personal stance and
said I will never understand until this happens to my two daughters. I have
tried with little or no success to mediate these events and have repeatedly
read the jury charges to them. Many, mainly the women, are too passionate
and can not set their passions aside to consider the testimony put before them
as their basis for the decision making process. We have one juror with a
sprained or strained back from a car accident that is very rational and a good
juror, but, in light of his discomfort some of the other jurors are starting to
leverage him because they know he is in pain and wants to just go home. I
am very disturbed by the fact that some jurors are merely just wanting to
send a message without making decisions based on the evidence presented
and testimony that has taken place over the last 7 days.
{¶58} In the end, the jury foreperson and the remaining jurors continued
deliberating and reached a verdict. For this reason, I concur with the majority that the
communication was not substantive and appellant cannot show prejudice.
{¶59} I do believe this is a case that can address best practices. When any
communication is received from a jury, the best practice is for the parties to be
immediately notified and given the opportunity to weigh in on any response if appropriate.
This does not mean the trial court has to accept the recommendations of counsel, but they
should be aware and have input. A lawyer should not have to learn about a
communication from the actual juror; that should come from the court. Although the
failure to notify counsel may only amount to harmless error, it is error nonetheless.