Civil procedure
Verdict
A verdict is the jury's decision on the questions it was asked to answer, such as liability and damages.
A general verdict simply says who wins and how much. A special verdict makes the jury answer specific factual questions and lets the judge apply the law to those answers, which is common in complex cases and gives appellate courts a clearer record.
The verdict is not the end. The court still enters judgment on it, and the losing side can ask for judgment as a matter of law, a new trial, or a reduction of the damages award before any appeal begins.
Do not read a verdict as the final number. Statutory caps, offsets, prejudgment interest, and post-trial motions all move the figure, so the amount in the judgment often differs substantially from the amount the jury announced.
How it appears on a docket
JURY VERDICT returned in favor of plaintiff on Count I, awarding $250,000 compensatory damages, and in favor of defendant on Count II.
Governing rule
Fed. R. Civ. P. 48, 49
Related terms
- Judgment — A judgment is the court's final decision resolving the claims in a case and stating who wins and what they get.
- Rule 59 Motion — A Rule 59 motion asks the trial court for a new trial or to alter or amend its judgment, and it must be filed within 28 days.
More on civil procedure
See this term in a real case
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