Watkins v. Central Freight Lines CA1/1

Filed 9/17/14 Watkins v. Central Freight Lines CA1/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
DAVID WATKINS,
Plaintiff and Appellant,
A138015
v.
CENTRAL FREIGHT LINES, INC., (Alameda County
Super. Ct. No. RG 11-573600)
Defendant and Appellant.
Plaintiff David Watkins sued his former employer, defendant Central Freight
Lines, Inc. (Central Freight), alleging his unfavorable work assignments and ultimate
termination were motivated by racial discrimination and Central Freight’s failure to
rehire him occurred in retaliation for his filing of an administrative claim of
discrimination. The jury rendered a special verdict finding, among other things, Watkins
was not terminated and Central Freight did not fail to rehire him, although those facts
were not disputed at trial. The trial court granted a motion for a new trial, concluding the
jury’s findings were without evidentiary support.
Central Freight contends the trial court misinterpreted the special verdict in
granting a new trial and Watkins forfeited his claim by failing to seek resubmission of the
special verdict to the jury. In a protective cross-appeal, Watkins contends the jury’s
finding that Central Freight’s failure to rehire him was not motivated by retaliation was
not supported by the evidence. We reverse the order granting a new trial and affirm the
judgment rendered on the jury’s special verdict.
I. BACKGROUND
Watkins sued Central Freight and two of its employees, Aaron Holstein and
Samuel Ballance, in April 2011. The complaint alleged that Watkins, an African-
American, was employed by Central Freight from May 2008, until his discharge in
January 2010.1 Against Central Freight, the complaint stated claims for racial
discrimination (first cause of action), adverse employment actions and failure to rehire in
violation of public policy, also based on racial discrimination (third cause of action),
failure to prevent discriminatory practices (fourth cause of action), failure to provide
proper meal and rest breaks (fifth cause of action), failure to pay wages upon discharge
(sixth cause of action), and four other claims that were eventually dismissed (seventh
through 10th causes of action).2 Against Holstein and Ballance, Watkins pleaded a single
claim of harassment based on race (second cause of action), which was dismissed prior to
trial.
Watkins worked as a delivery truck driver for Central Freight from May 2008,
until his termination eight months later, at the end of January 2009. Six other drivers
were hired by Central Freight after Watkins, five of whom were not African-American.
Beginning in July 2008, Watkins began to perceive that he was receiving less favorable
work assignments than the non-African-American drivers with less seniority. The pattern
continued and intensified over time, and his complaints to his supervisors, Ballance and
Holstein, and Central Freight’s human resources department, were ineffective in
remedying the problem.
Watkins and the six drivers with less seniority were all terminated within three
days of each other. The terminations, which resulted in a company-wide total of 531
layoffs, occurred as part of a reduction in force dictated by Central Freight’s headquarters
after the company lost a large client. An executive in Texas allocated the seniority-based
1
The complaint alleged Watkins was terminated in 2010; in fact, he was
terminated in January 2009.
2
The portion of the fifth cause of action alleging missed rest breaks was also
dismissed.
2
layoffs among the company’s local offices. The executive made the allocation on the
basis of business considerations, without knowing the identity of the affected employees.
The Hayward Terminal, where Watkins worked, was allocated seven layoffs. Holstein,
the terminal manager who made personnel decisions in Hayward, testified he was
unaware of the company’s plans prior to being directed to lay off his seven most junior
employees. Watkins was one of the seven.
Holstein said that when he terminated each of the seven employees, he explained
the circumstances of the layoffs, told the employees they would be eligible for rehiring if
work picked up, and instructed them to “call back and check in to see if there’s any
employment.” As Holstein explained, he “felt like if they wanted the job, they would
stay in contact with me. They would show me how bad they wanted to work.”
Although Central Freight’s business suffered for a time after the layoffs, it
gradually became necessary to hire more drivers. In order to be rehired, the laid off
drivers were required to reapply. Holstein testified he did not solicit any of the former
employees to return, but he referred those who called to the human resources department
to complete an application. In June 2009, early in the process of rehiring, Holstein
prepared a written evaluation of the work performance of the seven laid-off employees
for Central Freight’s human resources department. At the end of his evaluation of
Watkins, Holstein noted, “When laid off, instructions were given to call if interested to
return back to work; never heard from [Watkins].” Within a year after the layoffs, at
least seven drivers had been hired—the five non-African-American drivers who had been
laid off, as well as at least two new employees. Holstein explained Watkins was not
rehired because he “hadn’t applied and I hadn’t heard from him.”3
Watkins filed a complaint of discrimination with the California Department of Fair
Employment and Housing (DFEH) in mid-2009. Following the filing of the DFEH
complaint, Holstein testified, he would have been unwilling to rehire Watkins, since the
3
Contrary to Holstein’s testimony, Watkins said when he was laid off Holstein
told him “when things pick up he will call me.” Watkins acknowledged he never
affirmatively sought to be rehired by Central Freight.
3
complaint demonstrated Watkins was unhappy with the company. As Holstein said, “[I]f
he’s complaining about—making a filing is a complaint. Why would you bring him back
and put him potentially back in that environment. It just—to me, it just didn’t make
sense.”
The matter was submitted to the jury on a Tuesday morning. If the jury completed
its deliberations on Wednesday, the court informed the jurors, it would be necessary for
them to return on Thursday for delivery of the verdict. Because Juror No. 7 had a
professional conflict that would prevent her attendance from Thursday through Sunday,
the parties stipulated that she need not be present for delivery of the verdict, if one was
reached on Wednesday. The jury did reach a verdict on Wednesday, and the next
morning, with Juror No. 7 absent, the verdict was unsealed and read.4
The special verdict form, drafted by the court, was divided into sections
corresponding to the causes of action. Section 1, labeled “Race Discrimination,”
contained three questions. Question No. 1.1 asked, in three subparts, whether Watkins
was given less favorable work assignments, discharged, and not rehired:
“QUESTION NO. 1.1
“Did Central Freight Lines, Inc.: (please answer (a), (b), and (c) below)
“(a) Give David Watkins less favorable work assignments? Yes ___ No ___
“(b) Discharge David Watkins? Yes ___ No ___
“(c) Not rehire David Watkins? Yes ___ No ___
“If your answer to any part of this Question No. 1.1 is ‘Yes’ go on to Question
No. 1.2.
“If you answered ‘No’ to all, stop here, do not answer any more questions in this
section, and instead immediately proceed to Section 2 of this special verdict form.”
Question No. 1.2 asked, in a single question, whether race was a motivating factor
in any of the three actions mentioned in question No. 1.1. Finally, question No. 1.3 asked
4
There is no transcript of court proceedings, if any, on Wednesday. We infer the
submission of a sealed verdict on that day from comments made on Thursday.
4
whether any of those three actions, plus “retaliating against [Watkins],” was a substantial
factor in causing Watkins harm. Although Central Freight’s discharge and failure to
rehire Watkins were not disputed at trial, the jury answered “no” to all three subparts of
question No. 1.1 and did not answer the remaining questions.
Section 2, labeled “Wrongful Conduct in Violation of Public Policy,” was divided
into four questions. Question No. 2.1 was virtually identical to question No. 1.1, again
asking, in three subparts, whether Watkins was given less favorable work assignments,
discharged, and not rehired:
“QUESTION NO. 2.1
“Did Central Freight Lines, Inc.: (please answer (a), (b), and (c) below)
“(a) Give David Watkins less favorable work assignments? Yes ___ No ___
“(b) Discharge David Watkins? Yes ___ No ___
“(c) Not rehire David Watkins? Yes ___ No ___
“If your answer to any part of this Question No. 2.1 is ‘Yes’ go on to Question
No. 2.2.
“If you answered ‘No’ to all, stop here, do not answer any more questions in this
section, and instead immediately proceed to Section 3 of this special verdict form.”
Question No. 2.2, in three subparts, asked whether Watkins complained to Central
Freight about racially discriminatory actions and about alleged retaliation against him and
whether he complained to DFEH about Central Freight’s discrimination and retaliation.
Question No. 2.3 asked whether Watkins’s “race and/or complaints” were a motivating
factor in the three actions addressed in questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1. Like Question
No. 1.3, question No. 2.4 addressed causation. Again, the jury answered “no” to the first
three subparts of question No. 2.1 and did not answer the remaining questions.
Section 3, labeled “Failure to Prevent Discrimination or Retaliation,” had three
questions. Question No. 3.1, divided into three subparts, was as follows:
“QUESTION NO. 3.1
“Was David Watkins: (please answer (a), (b) and (c) below)
5
“(a) Subjected to discrimination because he was African American?
Yes ___ No ___
“(b) Subjected to retaliation because he opposed Central Freight Lines, Inc.’s
unlawful and discriminatory employment practices? Yes ___ No ___
“(c) Subjected to retaliation because he filed a complaint with the California
Department of Fair Employment and Housing? Yes ___ No ___
“If your answer to any part of this Question No. 3.1 is ‘Yes’ go on to Question
No. 3.2.
“If you answered ‘No’ to all, stop here, do not answer any more questions in this
section, and instead immediately proceed to Section 4 of this special verdict form.”
Question No. 3.2 asked whether Central Freight failed to take reasonable steps to
prevent the “discrimination and/or retaliation,” and question No. 3.3 addressed causation.
As with the prior two sections, the jury answered “no” to all three subparts of question
No. 3.1 and did not respond to the remainder. Section 4, concerning damages, was left
blank, consistent with the instructions of the special verdict form not to proceed if
questions Nos. 1.3, 2.4, and 3.3 were not answered.
Section 5, corresponding in part to the fifth cause of action, addressed the failure
to provide meal breaks. The jury found that Watkins worked through his meal breaks on
150 days and awarded $3,217.50 in compensation. In question No. 5.5, corresponding to
the sixth cause of action, the jury found that Central Freight did not willfully fail to pay
Watkins compensation for his missed meal breaks.
The jury was polled, and the responses were not entirely unanimous. With respect
to question No. 1.1(a), regarding unfavorable work assignments, the vote was 10 to 2.
With respect to the other two subparts of question No. 1.1, the jury was unanimous. On
question No. 2.1(a), again concerning work assignments, the vote was 9 to 3. As with
question No. 1.1, the poll on the final two subparts of question No. 2.1 was unanimous.
On question No. 3.1(a), which asked whether Watkins was subjected to race-based
discrimination, the vote was 11 to 1, but the differing juror later changed his or her vote
6
to make the tally unanimous.5 When the polling reached question No. 3.1(b), concerning
retaliation for Watkins’ opposition to discriminatory practices, the vote was found to be 8
to 4. Because the state Constitution requires three-fourths agreement among members of
a civil jury (Cal. Const., art. I, § 16), a vote of 8 to 4 was insufficient to resolve that
question.
Upon discovering the failure to reach the required super-majority on question
No. 3.1(b), the court retreated to a sidebar, suggesting to counsel that the jury be
reconstituted with an alternate and directed to begin deliberations again, given the
unavailability of Juror No. 7. Before settling on a course of action, the court and counsel
were informed that one of the jurors made a mistake in reporting his or her vote on that
subpart, mooting the need for further deliberation. By that time, however, counsel for
Watkins had claimed the responses to questions Nos. 1.1(a) and 2.1(a) were
“inconsisten[t],” apparently because the jury’s vote was different on these two questions.
Further, counsel for Central Freight addressed the anomaly in the responses to questions
Nos. 1.1 and 2.1, in which the jury found that Watkins was not discharged and Central
Freight did not fail to rehire him, even though it was undisputed those actions did, in fact,
occur. Defense counsel suggested the responses embodied a determination that the
discharge and failure to rehire were not racially motivated, to which the court responded,
“[T]hat’s just wrong. That’s not what they were supposed to do. They were supposed to
make a factual determination.” The court suggested it would direct the jury to “start their
deliberations all over again . . . and then fill[] out another jury verdict form.” Watkins’s
attorney appeared to concur, saying, “It seems pretty obvious that they jumped the gun
and converted a special verdict form into a kind of general verdict form. I wonder if it’s
necessary to remind them that they have to go through each section and answer it
specifically.” The court responded, “we can reinstruct them on that,” and asked, “Any
other thoughts in terms of what we do?” Both counsel answered, “Not now.”
5
See footnote 6, post.
7
At this point, the sidebar ended, and the jury was polled again on question No. 3.1.
When the poll reached question no. 3.1(b), the result was 9 to 3.6 The poll continued
with question No. 3.1(c), addressing retaliation for filing a FEHA complaint. The vote
was 11 to 1. The court stopped the proceedings at this point, saying, “we are going to
need to clarify a couple of things,” and conducted another conference with counsel.
Instead of suggesting further deliberations to resolve the anomaly of questions Nos. 1.1
and 2.1, as before, the court merely suggested the jury be polled again on questions
Nos. 1.1(a) and 2.1(a) to determine whether there was an inconsistency in the votes.
Counsel agreed. No reference was made by either counsel or the court to the earlier plan
to reinstitute deliberations.
The jury was then polled on the remaining questions and found to have voted 11 to
1 on each of the subparts of question No. 4.1. The remaining responses were unanimous,
with the exception of question No. 5.5, a 9-to-3 vote. The second time through on
questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1 produced the same results as before, replicating what
Watkins’s counsel and the court had characterized as an inconsistency.7
The court subsequently asked to “see counsel . . . in chambers” and conducted an
untranscribed conference with counsel. Immediately after the conference, the court,
without further explanation, “declare[d] the verdict to be complete,” directed its entry,
and dismissed the jurors. Following dismissal of the jury, the court summarized the
untranscribed conference as follows: “[U]nder all of the circumstances, the Court
concluded that we would accept the verdict today and to discharge the jury and deal with
any issues related to it later on, in connection with any motions for new trial that may
follow.” Neither attorney registered an objection. Judgment was entered on the special
6
The transcript shows that Juror No. 4, the same juror who had reported a mistake
on question No. 3.1(b), also changed his vote on question No. 3.1(a) in the second poll,
making the second poll on question No. 3.1(a) unanimous. The court noticed the
difference from the initial poll results and confirmed that the second poll was in fact
unanimous, but it did not pursue the reason for the change in vote.
7
This type of inconsistency does not render a special verdict invalid. (Keener v.
Jeld-Wen, Inc. (2009) 46 Cal.4th 247, 255, fn. 8 (Keener).)
8
verdict on November 13, 2012, awarding Watkins damages of $3,217.50 on the fifth
cause of action and finding for Central Freight on the remaining claims.
Shortly thereafter, Watkins moved for a partial judgment notwithstanding the
verdict (JNOV) and a new trial, arguing, among other grounds, the jury’s findings that
Watkins had not been discharged and Central Freight did not fail to rehire him were not
supported by the evidence. In opposition, Central Freight argued Watkins was
“misreading” the special verdict form, which should be understood to represent a finding
that Watkins suffered no adverse employment actions motivated by racial discrimination.
Central Freight also argued Watkins forfeited his argument by failing to seek any
corrective action in connection with the anomalies in the special verdict form while the
jury was still impaneled. In connection with this argument, counsel for Central Freight
submitted a declaration stating that, during discussions regarding the special verdict, he
had raised the issue of the anomaly in the answers to questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1. In
response to these arguments, counsel stated, Watkins’s attorney “did not request the
Court to interrogate the jury for the purpose of ascertaining the thinking of the jurors
when they gave their answers to subdivision (b) and (c) of Question 1.1.” In addition,
“Counsel for Watkins did not request, and the Court did not order, the jury go back into
deliberations, with alternative Juror No. 13, who was present, replacing absent Juror
No. 7, so that deliberations could begin all over again.” Counsel for Watkins submitted a
declaration in reply to Central Freight’s opposition to the new trial motion, but the
declaration did not contradict Central Freight’s claim that Watkins’s counsel had not
sought further deliberations or other relief in connection with the special verdict.
Similarly, although Watkins argued in his reply brief that the failure to object did not
forfeit a challenge to the special verdict, he did not contend an objection had, in fact,
been made.
The court issued written orders denying the JNOV motion but granting a new trial.
With respect to the motion for a new trial, the court accepted the jury’s special verdict at
face value, noting it was undisputed Watkins was discharged and not rehired, yet the jury
answered “no” to questions about these events. As a result, the court concluded, those
9
findings were not supported by the evidence. The court also noted there was evidence
from which the jury could have found Watkins was treated unfavorably as a result of his
race. The court rejected Central Freight’s argument that the special verdict should be
read as finding no discriminatory conduct, noting Central Freight had not presented any
juror declarations to that effect or legal authority to support the argument.8 To accept
Central Freight’s argument, the court held, “one would have to conclude that the jurors
completely ignored the Court’s instructions and answered questions they chose first to
construct, and then to answer all on their own. The court is not willing to engage in such
speculation.”
In rejecting Central Freight’s waiver argument, the court noted that in the
untranscribed conference with counsel, “The court concluded that it was not proper under
the circumstances presented here to send the jury back (with an alternate . . . ), and direct
it to change its answers to [questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1] and then continue to deliberate on
the other questions. [Citations.] The court concluded that the findings were so contrary
to the facts that the issue must be dealt with on a motion for new trial, and the court so
advised counsel.” Accordingly, the court determined, there was no basis to find that
Watkins’s counsel attempted to gain a tactical advantage in failing to seek further
deliberations. A new trial was ordered as to all of Watkins’s claims.
II. DISCUSSION
Central Freight has appealed from the order granting a new trial, while Watkins
filed a protective cross-appeal from the judgment.9
8
The trial court’s order also included a justification of the form of the special
verdict. Because the special verdict forms proposed by counsel “were inadequate or
unwieldy,” the order explained, the court itself prepared the form submitted to the jury,
attempting to “synthesize the verdicts into a comprehensible form.” No objection to the
form was raised by counsel. While recognizing “the court normally does not submit
undisputed issues to the jury,” the order noted the issue of less favorable work
assignments was in dispute, “so the jury would have had to make a finding on that issue
in all events.”
9
For the first two-thirds of its opening brief, Central Freight presents a variety of
arguments to support the entry of judgment in its favor. Because judgment was, in fact,
10
A. Grant of a New Trial
1. Interpretation of the Special Verdict
Central Freight contends the trial court misinterpreted the special verdict. We
agree and conclude that, properly interpreted, the special verdict provided no basis for
granting a new trial.
The law relating to new trial motions was recently summarized in Buckner v.
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. (2013) 222 Cal.App.4th 522 (Buckner): “A new trial may
be granted on all or part of the issues on the ground of ‘[i]nsufficiency of the evidence to
justify the verdict or other decision.’ [Citation.] A new trial shall not be granted on this
ground ‘unless after weighing the evidence the court is convinced from the entire record,
including reasonable inferences therefrom, that the court or jury clearly should have
reached a different verdict or decision.’ ” (Id. at p. 530.)
The standard of review for such a motion is ordinarily deferential: “ ‘The
determination of a motion for a new trial rests so completely within the court’s discretion
that its action will not be disturbed unless a manifest and unmistakable abuse of
discretion clearly appears.’ [Citation.] . . . ‘ “[T]he presumption of correctness normally
accorded on appeal to the jury’s verdict is replaced by a presumption in favor of the [new
trial] order.” [Citation.]’ [Citation.] ‘The reason for this high level of deference is the
trial court is much closer to the evidence than a reviewing court and sits as a trier of fact
independent of the jury.’ ” (Buckner, supra, 222 Cal.App.4th at p. 530.)
Notwithstanding the norm for a new trial motion, a deferential standard of review
is inappropriate here. As explained above, the grant of a new trial typically results from
the trial court’s independent review of the evidence, sitting as a trier of fact, and the
deferential standard of review recognizes the court’s role as fact finder. Here, in contrast,
entered largely in its favor, and because Central Freight does not challenge the jury’s
verdict on the one cause of action on which Watkins prevailed, these arguments are
largely beside the point, and we disregard them. As Watkins argues, Central Freight’s
appeal was taken from the grant of a new trial, and we therefore address the propriety of
that grant in addressing Central Freight’s appeal.
11
the trial court’s grant of a new trial was not based on an independent review of the
evidence. Rather, its conclusion the jury erred followed directly from its understanding
of the special verdict form, according to which the jury found facts to be true that were
incontestably not true. The basis for the trial court’s ruling was therefore its
interpretation of the special verdict form, not its weighing of the evidence. On that issue,
the interpretation of a special verdict form, the standard of review is de novo, as
discussed below.10
“When no objection is made that a special verdict is ambiguous or incomplete
before the jury is discharged, ‘it falls to “the trial judge to interpret the verdict from its
language considered in connection with the pleadings, evidence and instructions.”
[Citations.] Where the trial judge does not interpret the verdict or interprets it
erroneously, an appellate court will interpret the verdict if it is possible to give a correct
interpretation. [Citations.] If the verdict is hopelessly ambiguous, a reversal is required
. . . .” (Orthopedic Systems, Inc. v. Schlein (2011) 202 Cal.App.4th 529, 542.)
When interpreting a special verdict, “reference may be made to the pleadings, the
evidence and the court’s instructions. [Citations.] . . . ‘In determining the sufficiency of
the verdict the entire record should be searched and all the parts interpreted together, so
that if possible a deficiency in one place may be cured by what appears in another.’
[Citation.] Accordingly, it is the rule that all reasonable inferences will be indulged on
appeal to support, rather than defeat, a jury’s verdict . . . .” (Fransen v. Washington
(1964) 229 Cal.App.2d 570, 574.) “ ‘A verdict should be interpreted so as to uphold it
and to give it the effect intended by the jury, as well as one consistent with the law and
10
Plaintiff cites Jiminez v. Sears, Roebuck & Co. (1971) 4 Cal.3d 379, in which
the Supreme Court repeated the abuse of discretion standard in reviewing the grant of a
new trial, holding, “So long as a reasonable or even fairly debatable justification under
the law is shown for the order granting the new trial, the order will not be set aside.” (Id.
at p. 387.) The new trial motion in Jiminez was granted after the trial court concluded
instruction on a theory of law had been improperly refused. Although the Supreme Court
cited the abuse of discretion standard, it reviewed the trial court’s instructional holding as
a matter of law in affirming the decision to grant a new trial. (Id. at p. 386.)
12
the evidence.’ ” (All-West Design, Inc. v. Boozer (1986) 183 Cal.App.3d 1212, 1223.)
We are not bound by the trial court’s interpretation of the special verdict. (Saxena v.
Goffney (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 316, 325.) For this reason, notwithstanding the
ordinarily deferential standard of review, when the grant of a new trial is based on the
interpretation of a special verdict, we review the ruling de novo. (McCoy v. Gustafson
(2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 56, 93–94; City of San Diego v. D.R. Horton San Diego Holding
Co., Inc. (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 668, 678.)
The trial court interpreted the responses to questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1 literally.
While the “plain language” approach is generally appropriate, it failed under the unique
circumstances of this case. The jury’s vote was unanimous on the issues of discharge and
rehire. Yet it is inconceivable the jury meant to convey its uniform and sincere belief
Watkins was never discharged by Central Freight or Central Freight did not fail to rehire
him. The testimony was extensive and undisputed that Central Freight did discharge
Watkins and did not rehire him. No rational jury—and nothing in the record suggests this
jury was anything other than rational—could have sat through the trial and come to a
contrary result. To conclude, as the trial court held, that the jury actually meant to
convey its belief that Watkins was not discharged and was not denied rehiring fails to
give due credit to the jury.
In seeking to understand the jury’s meaning, we note there is a good reason why,
as the trial court noted, courts normally do not submit undisputed facts to the jury. To
ask the jury to make a finding as to an undisputed fact is inherently confusing because it
necessarily suggests there is a decision to be made about the fact—in other words, that
the fact might not be undisputed. In this case, the special verdict asked, “yes” or “no,”
whether Watkins was discharged and not rehired. Nothing in the form indicated “no”
was a “wrong” answer, thereby implying “no” was an acceptable alternative. The
confusion was amplified because the special verdict form instructed the jury that if it
answered “no” to the first three subparts of questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1, “stop here, do not
answer any more questions in this section, and instead immediately proceed” to the next
13
section. This reinforced, indeed confirmed, the implication that answering “no” to the
first three subparts was an appropriate response.
By suggesting to the jurors that responses they knew to be wrong might, to the
contrary, be correct, the special verdict form invited the jurors to speculate they simply
misunderstood the meaning of questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1—in other words, these facially
simple questions had a more complex meaning permitting them to be answered either
way. From that, it is a fairly short jump to concluding the questions were intended to
incorporate the entirety of the cause of action: not merely whether Watkins was
discharged or not rehired, matters not in dispute, but whether he was wrongfully
discharged and not rehired. If that further qualification is read into the questions, they
can rationally be answered either way, consistent with the jurors’ findings. As Central
Freight argues, the use of the sectional headings, “Race Discrimination” and “Wrongful
Conduct in Violation of Public Policy,” encouraged this approach. We have no doubt
this is precisely what happened. The jury’s answers to questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1 must
be interpreted to mean that Watkins was not given less favorable work assignments,
discharged, and not rehired for discriminatory reasons.
We find substantial support for that interpretation in the jury’s response to the
questions in section 3, entitled “Failure to Prevent Discrimination or Retaliation.” In
those responses, the jury found Watkins was not “subjected to discrimination because he
was African American,” and that he was not “[s]ubjected to retaliation” for speaking out
about perceived discriminatory employment practices or filing an administrative charge
of discrimination. Given the generality of the section 3 title, which appears to refer to
discrimination in any form, the unqualified finding of no racial discrimination in the first
subpart would presumably apply as well to the actions addressed in questions Nos. 1.1
and 2.1. The jury’s unanimous finding of no racial discrimination in section 3 therefore
constitutes a rejection of the factual premise for each of Watkins’s discrimination claims,
supporting the interpretation of the responses to questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1 as indicating
Watkins was not subjected to discriminatory employment practices. Considering the
special verdict as a whole, it is evident the jury concluded that Watkins did not suffer
14
racial discrimination during his employment by Central Freight, and the responses to
questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1 must be interpreted consistently with that conclusion.
In arguing in support of the trial court’s grant of a new trial, Watkins
mischaracterizes Central Freight’s argument, contending Central Freight is attempting to
treat the special verdict as a general verdict. On the contrary, Central Freight is properly
arguing for a commonsense interpretation of the special verdict, as a special verdict.
Watkins also notes the trial court rejected this position because Central Freight failed to
present juror declarations or legal authority. It is by no means clear that juror
declarations would be admissible on this issue, given the general rule against evidence of
a jury’s thought processes. (See Evid. Code, § 1150; People v. Allen and Johnson (2011)
53 Cal.4th 60, 75.) As discussed above, the interpretation of a verdict is a matter for the
court, and there is substantial case law supporting the power of the trial and appellate
courts to interpret a verdict.11
2. Waiver
Central Freight also contends Watkins forfeited any challenge to the special
verdict when his attorneys failed to request resubmission of the issues to the jury. Again,
we agree.
As discussed above, the anomaly in the special verdict form was raised by Central
Freight’s counsel during the court’s initial conference with counsel during the polling of
the jury. When the court suggested it would require further deliberation, Watkins’s
attorney agreed that the special verdict was defective. Despite this recognition, counsel
did not object when, during the second conference, the court made no reference to further
deliberations. Further, there is nothing in the record to suggest Watkins’s counsel
requested further deliberations during the final, untranscribed conference, nor is there any
record of an objection to the trial court’s decision to accept the special verdict form as is.
11
Watkins also argues the special verdict is not ambiguous. As discussed at length
in the text, the special verdict is plainly subject to two differing interpretations. Nothing
more is needed to create an ambiguous verdict.
15
On the contrary, the statement in the declaration of Central Freight’s attorney that no
such objection was made is uncontroverted.
We therefore conclude that Watkins’s attorney, while aware of the anomaly
represented by questions Nos. 1.1 and 2.1 of the special verdict, made no attempt to have
the jury clarify the matter. On the contrary, despite acknowledging during the polling
that the jury had “jumped the gun and converted a special verdict form into a kind of
general verdict form,” Watkins’s attorneys allowed the special verdict to be accepted
without objection. Only later, after the jury could no longer be consulted on the issue,
did Watkins seek to have the special verdict overturned, filing a motion for a new trial on
the grounds the verdict was not supported by the evidence.
When the jury renders a patently ambiguous special verdict, the law is clear, it is
the duty of counsel to bring the ambiguity to the attention of the court and the duty of the
court to require further deliberations to resolve the ambiguity. (Code Civ. Proc., § 619;
Montoya v. Barragan (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 1215, 1230.) “If a verdict appears
inconsistent, a party adversely affected should request clarification, and the court should
send the jury out again to resolve the inconsistency.” (Singh v. Southland Stone, U.S.A.,
Inc. (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 338, 357.)
There is some conflict, however, in the Supreme Court’s rulings with respect to
the forfeiture of a later claim when no effort is made at clarification. In general terms,
the court has held: “ ‘Failure to object to a verdict before the discharge of a jury and to
request clarification or further deliberation precludes a party from later questioning the
validity of that verdict if the alleged defect was apparent at the time the verdict was
rendered and could have been corrected.’ [Citation.] . . . [¶] . . . [¶] . . . ‘ “ ‘ “ ‘ . . . The
law casts upon the party the duty of looking after his legal rights and of calling the
judge’s attention to any infringement of them. If any other rule were to obtain, the party
would in most cases be careful to be silent as to his objections until it would be too late to
obviate them, and the result would be that few judgments would stand the test of an
appeal.’ ” ’ ” ’ ” (Keener, supra, 46 Cal.4th 247, 263–265, italics and fn. omitted.) In
Keener, the court found a claim based on one juror’s failure to respond during polling
16
was forfeited when not brought to the court’s attention at the time of the omission, since
“the incomplete polling . . . was indeed ‘apparent at the time the verdict was rendered
and could have been corrected.’ ” (Id. at p. 267, italics added by Keener.)
Weighed against this general rule is the court’s dictum discussion in a footnote in
Woodcock v. Fontana Scaffolding & Equip. Co. (1968) 69 Cal.2d 452 (Woodcock):
“Frequently, failure to object to the form of a verdict before the jury is discharged has
been held to be a waiver of any defect. [Citations.] However, waiver is not automatic,
and there are many exceptions. [Citations.] [¶] Waiver is not found where the record
indicates that the failure to object was not the result of a desire to reap a ‘technical
advantage’ or engage in a ‘litigious strategy.’ [Citations.] . . . [W]aiver is not an issue
where a defect is latent and there is no hint of ‘litigious strategy.’ [¶] There was no
waiver here because, in light of the instructions, the verdict was not ambiguous.
[Citation.] Accordingly, there was nothing to clarify. . . .” (Id. at pp. 456–457, fn. 2.)
The Supreme Court attempted to reconcile the two rules toward the end of Keener.
In response to the appellant’s claim, quoting Woodcock, that “there is no indication that
their failure to object was ‘the result of a desire to reap a “technical advantage” or engage
in a “litigious strategy,” ’ ” the court distinguished Woodcock as applying only when a
verdict is ambiguous, rather than the defective polling present in Keener. (Keener, supra,46 Cal.4th at pp. 269–270.) Further, the court noted, the rule of Woodcock applies when
the ambiguity is latent, while the defect in Keener “must be characterized as apparent,
and not latent.” (Id. at p. 270, fn. 31.) We conclude, based on this latter observation in
Keener, that, notwithstanding the dictum in Woodcock, a party forfeits a later claim of
error based on an apparent, correctible ambiguity in a special verdict when no request for
clarification is made prior to discharge of the jury. When a party fails to object and seek
clarification of an ambiguity that is apparent, there can be no inference other than the
party has consciously elected to forgo clarification as a “litigious strategy.”
The defect in this special verdict was obvious upon even a superficial reading of
the form. Indeed, it was sufficiently apparent that Central Freight brought the issue to the
court’s attention, Watkins’s counsel acknowledged the ambiguity and speculated on its
17
cause, and the court declared its intention to remedy the problem. Further, the ambiguity
could have been readily resolved, either by substituting an alternate juror and instructing
the jury to begin deliberations anew, as the court suggested at the time, or by continuing
the matter until Juror No. 7 was available for further deliberations. In light of the
apparent nature of the ambiguity and its ready resolution, we conclude that Watkins’s
failure to insist on resubmission of the special verdict form to the jury forfeited his later
request for a new trial.12
B. Watkins’s Cross-appeal
Because we reverse the order granting a new trial and reinstate the judgment, we
must address Watkins’s cross-appeal. Watkins contends the jury’s conclusion that
Central Freight did not retaliate against him by failing to rehire him as a result of his
filing of the DFEH claim was not supported by the evidence, in light of Holstein’s
testimony that the filing caused him to be unwilling to rehire Watkins.
“When a party contends insufficient evidence supports a jury verdict, we apply the
substantial evidence standard of review.” (Wilson v. County of Orange (2009)
169 Cal.App.4th 1185, 1188.) Under this standard, “[a]ll conflicts in the evidence are
resolved in favor of the prevailing party, and all reasonable inferences are drawn in a
manner that upholds the verdict.” (Holmes v. Lerner (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 442, 445.)
“[W]e do not evaluate the credibility of the witnesses or otherwise reweigh the evidence.
[Citation.] Rather, ‘we defer to the trier of fact on issues of credibility.’ ” (Escamilla v.
Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 498, 514–515.) “In
short, even if the judgment of the trial court is against the weight of the evidence, we are
12
In making this ruling, we acknowledge the trial court ultimately ruled the matter
would not be resubmitted to the jury. From the limited evidence available, however, the
decision appears to have been made on the basis of the purported inconsistency in some
of the responses, rather than a consideration of the ambiguity. Further, and more
importantly, there is no way to know what the ruling of the court would have been had
Watkins’s counsel not acquiesced without objection to the court’s plan. To preserve a
claim based on the ambiguity, Watkins’s counsel had a duty, at a minimum, to object to
the court’s decision not to resubmit the matter.
18
bound to uphold it so long as the record is free from prejudicial error and the judgment is
supported by evidence which is ‘substantial,’ that is, of ‘ “ponderable legal
significance,” ’ ‘ “reasonable in nature, credible, and of solid value . . . .” ’ ” (Howard v.
Owens Corning (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 621, 631.)
Under Government Code section 12940, “One unlawful employment practice . . .
is ‘[f]or any employer, labor organization, employment agency, or person to discharge,
expel, or otherwise discriminate against any person because the person has opposed any
practices forbidden under this part or because the person has filed a complaint, testified,
or assisted in any proceeding under this part.’ (Subd. (h).) This form of unlawful
employment practice is often called simply ‘retaliation.’ ” (Jones v. Lodge at Torrey
Pines Partnership (2008) 42 Cal.4th 1158, 1161–1162.) “To establish a prima facie case
of retaliation, the plaintiff must show he or she engaged in a ‘protected activity,’ the
employer subjected the employee to an adverse employment action, and a causal link
existed between the protected activity and the employer’s action.” (McRae v.
Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 377, 386.)
Watkins contends it was undisputed Holstein was unwilling to rehire him because
he had filed an administrative charge of discrimination. While this is true, it gives an
incomplete account of the failure to rehire. Holstein testified that in order to be rehired,
an employee was required to reapply for work. When former employees contacted him
seeking to be rehired, he directed them to fill out an application. Because Watkins never
contacted Holstein or otherwise expressed an interest in returning to Central Freight, and
because he failed to reapply for work, the issue of his rehiring never arose, and his filing
of the DFEH claim never became a factor in Central Freight’s failure to rehire him.
Accepting Holstein’s account, while he may have harbored an intent to retaliate, that
intent had no causal connection to the actual failure to rehire, which occurred merely
because Watkins never sought to be rehired. The jury was entitled to accept Holstein’s
testimony on the matter, which was “ ‘ “reasonable in nature, credible, and of solid value
. . . .” ’ ” (Howard v. Owens Corning, supra, 72 Cal.App.4th at p. 631.)
19
Watkins argues Holstein engaged in a “recruiting activity” that excluded Watkins
when he sought out two of the other former employees but made no similar effort to
locate Watkins. (See Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, §§ 11015, 11016.)13 While there was
testimony Holstein sought out certain past employees, Holstein denied having done so,
saying he merely directed former employees who contacted him to fill out applications
for rehire. Again, this testimony provides substantial evidence to support the jury’s
verdict.
III. DISPOSITION
The trial court’s order granting a new trial is reversed, and the judgment entered
on November 13, 2012, is affirmed. Central Freight shall recover costs on appeal.
_________________________
Margulies, J.
We concur:
_________________________
Humes, P.J.
_________________________
Banke, J.
13
California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 11016, subdivision (a)(1) states:
“Any employer . . . engaged in recruitment activity shall recruit in a non-discriminatory
manner.” Section 11015, subdivision (a) defines “recruitment” as “[t]he practice of any
employer or other covered entity that has the purpose or effect of informing any
individual about an employment opportunity, or assisting an individual to apply for
employment, an activity leading to employment, . . . or referral by an employment
agency.”
20