C&C CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, INC., Appellant, Cross-Appellee v. JUAN NALES-MARTINEZ, Appellee, Cross-Appellant
C&C Construction & Maintenance, Inc. v. Nales-Martinez
FINCH, Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands', SANCHEZ, Judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation', and HOLLAR, Judge of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, sitting by designation.
C&C CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, INC., Appellant, Cross-Appellee v. JUAN NALES-MARTINEZ, Appellee, Cross-Appellant
C&C CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, INC., Appellant, Cross-Appellee v. JUAN NALES-MARTINEZ, Appellee, Cross-Appellant
D.C. Civil App. No. 2002/0093, Consolidated 2003/0023
District Court of the Virgin Islands Division of St. Croix, Appellate Division
July 15, 2011
CHARLES E. Engeman, Esq., St. Thomas, USVI, Attorney for Appellant, Cross-Appellee.
ESZART A. WYNTER, Esq., St. Croix, USVI, Attorney for Appellee, Cross-Appellant.
FINCH, Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands', SANCHEZ, Judge of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation', and HOLLAR, Judge of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, sitting by designation.
OPINION
(July 15, 2011)
In reviewing this civil action for damages, we are called upon to address assignments of error regarding the Superior Court's decisions concerning summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and directed verdict, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL POSTURE
C&C Construction and Maintenance Inc. ("C&C" or "Appellant") was a construction and maintenance company which provided manpower and services for the HOVENSA, LLC oil refinery on St. Croix, U.S.V.I. Appellee, Juan Nales-Martinez ("Martinez" or "Appellee" or "Cross-Appellant") was formerly employed as a carpenter with C&C from 1991 until December 1993. In December of 1993, Martinez was laid off due to a reduction in workforce and given a lay-off slip indicating that he would be eligible for rehire should work become available. Martinez, however, was never rehired by C&C.
On October 24, 1995, after discovering that carpenters with less seniority had been rehired, Martinez initiated an action for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract and wrongful discharge in the Superior Court. On September 25, 2001, the trial court entered summary judgment against Martinez dismissing his fraud, misrepresentation and wrongful discharge claims.
From April 22-23, 2002, a trial was held on the surviving breach of contract claim. At trial, Martinez argued through counsel that an implied contract existed between himself and C&C, which was based in part on seniority; and which imposed a duty on C&C to rehire him should work become available. Martinez further argued that C&C breached that duty by failing to rehire him when work became available. C&C counter-argued, inter alia, that no written or implied contract existed, no seniority policy was adopted, nor did C&C otherwise have a duty to rehire Martinez.
After the close of Martinez' case-in-chief, C&C moved for judgment as a matter of law on the breach of contract and damages claims pursuant to Fed. R. Crv. P. 50(a). The trial court heard arguments on the motion from both parties, but reserved its ruling. After the close of all evidence, C&C renewed its Rule 50(a) motion. Again, the court reserved its ruling. While the Rule 50(a) motion remained pending, the jury was instructed and the matter was submitted for deliberation. Subsequently, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Martinez in the amount of $273,000.00 in compensatory damages.
After the jury was discharged, the trial court granted in part and denied in part, C&C's pre-verdict Rule 50(a) motion. In partially granting C&C's 50(a) motion with regard to damages, the trial court reasoned that Martinez "failed . to present evidence which would allow a rational fact-finder to find any damages for the years 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999." (J.A. 450-451.) In partially denying C&C's 50(a) motion, the trial court concluded that there was sufficient evidence from which a rational fact-finder could determine that there was a duty to rehire based on custom and practice from October of 2000 until June of 2001. (Id.) In so doing, the trial court calculated Martinez' hourly salary based on a forty-hour work week from October 2000 to June 2001, reduced by the amount Martinez earned in 2001. (J.A. 450-451.) The result was a remittitur of the jury award from $273,000.00 to $13,483.00 in damages. On July 10, 2002, the trial court issued its written ruling. However, neither C&C nor Martinez filed any post-verdict motions with the trial court, nor did either party move for a new trial.
On July 16, 2002, C&C filed its timely notice of appeal challenging the trial court's partial denial of its Rule 50(a) motion for judgment as a matter of law. On July 26, 2002, Martinez filed a timely cross-appeal challenging the trial court's September 21, 2001, summary judgment decision and its July 10, 2002, remittitur of the damages award.
II. JURISDICTION and STANDARD OF REVIEW
This Court exercises appellate jurisdiction over judgments and orders of the Superior Court in civil cases. V.I. CODE Ann. tit. 4, § 33 (2001); Revised Organic Act of 1954 § 23A, 48 U.S.C. § 1613a. This Court exercises plenary review over the order denying summary judgment, and must "apply the same test that the lower court should have utilized." Texaco Antilles Ltd. v. Creque, 273 F. Supp. 2d 660, 662 (D.V.I. 2003).
The appellate court's review of a Rule 50(a) directed verdict is also plenary. Mosley v. Wilson, 102 F.3d 85, 89 (3d Cir. 1996). A directed verdict or judgment as a matter of law is only appropriate where, viewing all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find for that party on that issue. Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a)(1); Goodman v. Pennsylvania Turnpike Comm'n, 293 F.3d 655, 664-665 (3d Cir. 2001); Caver v. City of Trenton, 420 F.3d 243 (3d Cir. 2005). The legal foundation for the jury's verdict is reviewed de novo while the factual findings are reviewed to determine if there is a rational basis for the verdict in the evidence, drawing all favorable inferences to the prevailing party justifiably drawn from the evidence. Steelwagon Mfg. Co. v. Tarmac Roofing Systems, Inc., 63 F.3d 1267, 1271 (3d Cir. 1995).
III. ANALYSIS
A. C&C's Appeal
C&C's arguments turn on the trial court's partial denial of its Fed. R. Crv. P. 50, motion for judgment as a matter of law. Specifically, C&C argues that the trial court erred by: reserving ruling and partially denying C&C's Fed. R. Civ. P. 50 motion; finding that an implied contract existed as a matter of law; and determining that there was sufficient evidence pursuant to FED. R. Crv. R 50 to award damages to Martinez. We, however, find that the trial court properly reserved its ruling, and that C&C's failure to file the necessary post-verdict motions precludes our substantive review of C&C's appeal.
1. Rule 50
"Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 establishes two stages during which a party may challenge the sufficiency of the evidence in a jury trial: prior to submission of the case to the jury and after the verdict and entry of judgment." See, e.g., Benta v. Bryan, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64598, at *7-8 (D.V.I. App. Div. July 22, 2009), rev'd on other grounds by, 420 Fed. Appx. 214 (3d Cir. 2011). Prior to the case going before the jury, a party may challenge the sufficiency of the evidence via Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a).
In contrast, Rule 50(b), allows a party to renew its sufficiency of the evidence challenge after the jury verdict and entry of judgment. FED. R. Civ. P. 50(b) provides in pertinent part that:
(b) Renewing Motion for Judgment After Trial;
Alternative Motion for New Trial.
If, the court does not grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law made under subdivision (a), the court is considered to have submitted the action to the jury subject to the court's later deciding the legal questions raised by the motion. The movant may renew its request for judgment as a matter of law by filing a motion no later than 10 days after entry of judgment — and may alternatively request a new trial or join a motion for a new trial under Rule 59. In ruling on a renewed motion, the court may:
(1) if a verdict was returned:
(A) allow the judgment to stand,
(B) order a new trial, or
(C) direct entry of judgment as a matter of law....
Id. (emphasis added).
To challenge the sufficiency of evidence, a 50(a) motion must be filed before submission of the case to the jury. Unitherm, 546 U.S. at 396. If the Rule 50(a) motion is not granted and the jury subsequently decides against the moving party, then pre-verdict 50(a) arguments may be renewed by filing a post-verdict 50(b) motion. Id.; see also Benta, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 64598. Aparty may also challenge the trial court's 50(a) ruling by moving for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59. See FED. R. Civ. P. 50(b)(2002).
2. Reserving ruling on C&C's 50(a) motion
C&C argues that the trial court erred in submitting the matter to the jury, while a Rule 50(a) motion was pending. However, the Superior Court's decision to reserve its decision was properly within its discretion.
Rule 50(a) expressly provides that the trial court may resolve the 50(a) issue against the party; and may grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law against the party based on sufficiency of the evidence. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(a)(2002) (emphasis added). The rule further provides that, "[i]f, the court does not grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law made under subdivision (a), the court is considered to have submitted the action to the jury subject to the court's later deciding the legal questions raised by the motion." Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b)(2002) (emphasis added).
Thus, "while a [trial] court is permitted to enter judgment as a matter of law when it concludes that the evidence is legally insufficient, it is not required to do so." Unitherm Food Sys. v. Swift-Eckrich, Inc., 546 U.S. 394, 401, 405, 126 S. Ct. 980, 163 L. Ed. 2d 974 (2006). In fact, "[trial] courts are, if anything encouraged to submit the case to the jury, rather than granting [Rule 50(a)] motions." Id. As Wright and Miller explain:
Even at the close of all the evidence it may be desirable to refrain from granting a motion for judgment as a matter of law despite the fact that it would be possible for the [trial] court to do so. If judgment as a matter of law is granted and the appellate court holds that the evidence in fact was sufficient to go to the jury, an entire new trial must be had. If, on the other hand, the trial court submits the case to the jury, though it thinks the evidence insufficient, final determination of the case is expedited greatly. If the jury agrees with the court's appraisal of the evidence, and returns a verdict for the party who moved for judgment as a matter of law, the case is at an end. If the jury brings in a different verdict, the trial court can grant a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law.
Unitherm, Inc., 546 U.S. at 405-06 (2006) (citing 9A Federal Practice § 2533, at 319 (citations and footnote omitted)).
Here, the trial court adroitly exercised its discretion to reserve ruling, submitted the matter to a jury, then ruled as a matter of law, pursuant to Rule 50(a) after the return of the verdict. Accordingly, the trial court's conduct was in accordance with the governing rule and accepted practice. See, e.g., id. at 406.
3. C&C's failure to move pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) or Rule 59.
C&C's appeal is predicated on substantive challenges to the trial court's Rule 50(a) determination concerning its motion for judgment as a matter of law concerning Martinez' breach of contract claim. However, C&C's procedural failure to file a Rule 50(b) post-verdict renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law precludes our substantive review of its claims of error.
At the close of Martinez' case in chief, C&C filed a Rule 50(a) motion and articulated that 50(a) motion prior to the jury verdict. The court reserved its ruling on the 50(a) motion and the matter was submitted to the jury. The jury returned a verdict. C&C had ten days thereafter to file either a Rule 50(b) renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law or a Rule 59 motion for a new trial. See FED. R. Civ. R 50(b) (2002); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 (2002). C&C filed neither motion. This error proved fatal.
The Supreme Court has flatly held that a rule 50(a) ruling cannot be appealed "unless that motion is renewed pursuant to Rule 50(b)." Unitherm Food Sys. v. Swift-Eckrich, Inc., 546 U.S. 394, 401, 404, 126 S. Ct. 980, 163 L. Ed. 2d 974 (2006) (citations omitted). This position is neither new nor trivial. For over half a Century, the Supreme Court has underscored that a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law [Rule 50(b) motion] is imperative because it permits the trial court to exercise its discretion to choose between ordering a new trial and entering judgment. Cone, 330 U.S. 212, 216, 67 S. Ct. 752, 91 L. Ed. 849 (1947); see also Johnson v. New York, N. H. & H. R. Co., 344 U.S. 48, 53 n.13, 73 S. Ct. 125, 97 L. Ed. 77 (1952) (the requirement of a timely application for judgment after verdict is not an "idle motion because it is . an essential part of the rule, firmly grounded in principles of fairness.") The high Court in Cone noted that,
[determination of whether a new trial should be granted or a judgment entered under Rule 50(b) calls for the judgment in the first instance of the judge who saw and heard the witnesses and has the feel of the case which no appellate printed transcript can impart. Exercise of this discretion presents to the trial judge an opportunity, after all his rulings have been made and all the evidence has been evaluated, to view the proceedings in a perspective peculiarly available to him alone. He is thus afforded "a last chance to correct his own errors without the delay, expense or other hardships of an appeal.
Id. The exercise of this discretion is so critical to the reviewing process that the high Court has explicitly held that, the absence of a post-verdict 50(b) motion before the trial court precludes further appellate review. Id.; see also Unitherm, 546 U.S. at 404.
Where, as here, the trial court reserves ruling on a 50(a) motion, then denies it after a verdict is returned, the requirement does not change — party must also raise a post-verdict motion to trigger appellate review. See, e.g., Johnson v. New York, N. H. & H. R. Co., 344 U.S. 48, 50-54, 73 S. Ct. 125, 97 L. Ed. 77 (1952). In sum, courts of appeals may review only the denial of a 50(a) motion for judgment as matter of law made at the close of all evidence and seasonably renewed post-verdict, pursuant to Rule 50(b). Surprenant v. Rivas, 424 F.3d 5, 13 (1st Cir. 2005) (citing Cone, 330 U.S. at 218); see also Fed. R. Civ. R 50(b).
C&C moved for a directed verdict under Rule 50(a). However, C&C forfeited its right to substantive review when it failed to move, after the jury rendered its verdict, for judgment as a matter of law under Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) or to move for a new trial under Fed. R. Civ. P. 59. See Unitherm Food Sys., 546 U.S. at 405, 408; Gleason v. Norwest Mortg., Inc., 253 Fed. Appx. 198, 202 (3d Cir. 2007) ("For a party to challenge on appeal the sufficiency of the evidence to support a jury's finding, that party must have first made an appropriate post-verdict motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(b)"); Charles Jacquin Et Cie, Inc. v. Destileria Serralles, Inc., 921 F.2d 467, 475 (3d Cir. 1990) (similar); Muniz v. Rovira, 373 F.3d 1, 5 n.2 (1st Cir. 2004) ("Failure to file a motion for judgment as a matter of law at the close of all the evidence pretermits the filing of a post-trial motion for that relief."). Accordingly, because C&C failed to properly renew its motion for judgment as a matter of law or move for a new trial, we are barred from substantively reviewing the trial court's Rule 50(a) determinations for sufficiency of the evidence.
B. Martinez' appeal
Martinez' appeal is premised on two bases. First, Martinez challenges the Superior Court's remittitur of the jury's damages award on his breach of contract claim. Second, Martinez contends that the lower court's summary judgment decision concerning his wrongful discharge claim was made in error. We shall address each in turn.
1. Remittitur
After determining that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's monetary breach of contract award in Martinez' favor, the trial court judge remitted the award from $273,000.00 to $13,483.00. On appeal, Martinez frames his argument as a substantive challenge to the trial court's insufficiency of evidence determination. However, in our opinion, Martinez' appeal turns on a standard procedural safeguard that was not applied below or raised by either party; specifically, that the trial court erred in remitting the jury award without first offering Martinez the option of choosing between a remittitur and a new trial.
A remittitur is the action taken by a court to reduce a jury's verdict, and is triggered when the trial judge finds inter alia that a jury's monetary damage award is unsupported by the evidence or is excessive. Spence v. Bd. of Educ. of the Christina Sch. Dist., 806 F.2d 1198, 1200 (3d. Cir. 1986); Kazan v. Wolinski, 721 F.2d 911 (3rd Cir. 1983); see also Mulkerin v. Somerset Tire Service, Inc., 110 N.J. Super. 173, 176, 264 A.2d 748 (App. Div. 1970).
The trial court may order a remittitur when it believes the jury's award is unreasonable on the facts. Id. (emphasis in original). Hence, the remittitur is essentially "a substitution of the court's judgment for that of the jury regarding the appropriate award of damages." Cortez v. Trans Union, LLC, 617 F.3d 688, 716 (3d Cir. 2010) (citing Johansen v. Combustion Engineering, Inc., 170 F.3d 1320 (11th Cir. 1999)). Because a remittitur requires a trial judge to substitute a jury's judgment for her own, a remittitur invariably raises concerns regarding a litigant's Seventh Amendment right to have his case decided by a jury in its entirety.
To avoid triggering Seventh Amendment concerns, the remittitur is traditionally accompanied by offering the verdict-winner the choice of a new trial. See, e.g., Spence, 806 F.2d at 1206; see also Keller v. County of Bucks, 209 Fed. Appx. 201, 203 (3d Cir. 2006); see also Starceski v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 54 F.3d 1089, 1093 (3d Cir. 1995); see, e.g., Herman v. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp., 11 V.I. 22 (D.V.I. 1974). Choice is the lynchpin that allows the remittitur to withstand Seventh Amendment scrutiny on appeal; because, the coupling of the remittitur with the election of a new trial "gives [the] plaintiff the choice of accepting the reduced verdict and foregoing his right to have his damages heard by a jury[,] or suffering a new trial on damages." Mulkerin v. Somerset Tire Serv., Inc., 110 N.J. Super. 173, 264 A. 2d 748 (App. Div. 1970) (emphasis added).
Put another way, in order to avoid Constitutional infirmity, when remitting a jury award, "the court must offer a new trial as an alternative to a reduction in the award in order to avoid depriving the plaintiff of his/her Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial." Cortez, 617 F.3d at 716 (emphasis added); see also Hetzel v. Prince William Cnty., 523 U.S. 208, 210, 118 S. Ct. 1210, 140 L. Ed. 2d 336 (1998). Martinez was not presented the option of either agreeing to the remittitur or pursuing a new trial.
In Hetzel v. Prince William County, Va., a jury in the Eastern District of Virginia found for Hetzel on her civil rights claims against Prince William County, Virginia. 523 U.S. at 208. The trial court reduced the damages award from $750,000 to $500,000 on the grounds that one of the claims supporting the award was legally insufficient. Id. at 208-209. The County appealed, and the Fourth Circuit affirmed the finding of liability, but reversed the reduced damages award as grossly excessive and remanded for recalculation. Id. On remand, the district court recalculated the damages and further reduced Hetzel's award to $50,000. Id. Hetzel moved for a new trial, and rejected the $50,000 award. Id. On further appeal, the United States Supreme Court highlighted that the court's remittitur without the standard election for a new trial violated Hetzel's Seventh Amendment right to a trial by jury. Id. The high court pointedly explained that, when the trial court determines that the evidence does not support the jury's award, it "has no authority . to enter an absolute judgment for any other sum than that assessed by the jury . without allowing petitioner the option of a new trial." Id. (internal citations and quotations omitted).
Hetzel highlights the time-honored practice of the conditional remittitur as a tool designed to give the plaintiff a choice between a reduced award or a new trial where, "the prerequisites to recovery have been firmly established, but the trial judge has determined that the damage award is 'just too much.' " Spence v. Board of Education, 806 F.2d 1198, 1206 (3d Cir. 1986) (emphasis added) (citing Schneffer, 506 F. Supp. at 1308); see also Davis v. Omitowoju, 883 F.2d 1155, 1163 (3d Cir. 1989). That choice was not presented here.
Here, the trial remitted a significant portion of the jury's award for legal insufficiency. However, it did not give Martinez the option of either accepting the reduced verdict or pursuing a new trial on damages. The trial court's failure to offer Martinez the option of a new trial on damages triggered Seventh Amendment concerns that we are compelled to safeguard. Hence, we remand to afford the Appellant the opportunity to exercise the option that should have been presented to him in the first instance. Accordingly, we narrowly remand the trial court's remittitur with instructions for the trial court to solely allow Martinez the option of either: a) accepting the trial court's reduced damages award or b) moving for a new trial on damages.
2. Summary Judgment
Martinez also argues that the trial court erred in rendering summary judgment against him on his wrongful discharge claim. On September 25, 2001, prior to trial, the Superior Court entered summary judgment against Martinez concerning his statutory wrongful discharge claim. The court held that, under V.L CODE Ann. tit. 24, § 76(a) ("Wrongful Discharge Act" or "Act"), a termination resulting from a workforce reduction is not a per se wrongful discharge and, thus, summary judgment was appropriate. See V.I. CODE Ann. tit. 24, § 76; (J.A. 539-542).
In pertinent part, 24 V.I.C. § 76(c) reads:
[NJothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting an employer from terminating an employee as a result of cessation of business or as a result of a general cutback in work force due to economic hardship...
Id.
As the trial court aptly held, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, an employer has no statutory duty to rehire employees who are laid off due to a bona fide work-force reduction. See 24 V.I.C. § 76. Martinez does not contest the fact that C&C's workforce reduction was indeed bona fide. Moreover, in the absence of a statutory duty to rehire, Martinez presents no contract to support his conclusion that C&C had a duty to rehire him. As such, no genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether C&C had an obligation to rehire Martinez. We accordingly, affirm the trial court's summary judgment decision concerning wrongful discharge.
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons cited above, we affirm the Superior Court's ruling concerning Martinez' wrongful discharge claim. C&C's challenge to the trial court's Rule 50(a) ruling concerning Martinez' breach of contract ruling fails because C&C failed to file the requisite post-verdict motions. We otherwise remand for the trial court to offer Martinez the election of either accepting the remittitur or moving for a new trial on damages concerning his breach of contract claim. An order consistent with this opinion shall follow.
At all times relevant to the lower court's proceedings, the trial court was known as the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands and its judges were referred to as Territorial Court Judges. Effective January 1, 2005, however, the name of the Territorial Court changed to Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. See Act of Oct. 29,2004, No. 6687, sec. 6, § 2,2004 V.I. Legis. 6687 (2004). Recognizing this renaming, where applicable, the Court employs the terms "Superior Court" and "judge of the Superior Court".
On September 21,2001, the court dismissed Martinez' claims for fraud, misrepresentation and wrongful discharge. (J.A. 539-542.) Martinez' appellate briefs do not challenge the trial court's dismissal of his fraud and misrepresentation claims. We, therefore, do not consider them now. In re Pressman-Gutman Co., Inc., 459 F.3d 383, 402 (3d Cir. 2006) (failure by a party to identify an issue in its opening brief constitutes waiver of that issue on appeal).
On March 18,2011, upon this Court's order, C&C filed notice that its reasonable inquiry had revealed that no post-verdict motions were filed with the Superior Court. See Notice of filing response to show cause order by C&C Construction & Maintenance (D.V.I. App. Div. March 18, 2011), ECF No. 37.
The complete Revised Organic Act of 1954 is found at 48 U.S.C. § 1541-1645 (1995 & Supp. 2003), reprinted in V.I. CODE ANN. § 73-177, Historical Documents, Organic Acts, and U.S. Constitution (1995 & Supp. 2003) (preceding V.I. Code Ann. tit. 1).
A moving party is entitled to summary judgment "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Texaco Antilles Ltd. v. Creque, 273 F. Supp. 2d 660, 662 (D.V.I. 2003).
Summary judgment may be entered "against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Id. once the moving party properly supports its motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party must establish a genuine issue of material fact in order to preclude a grant of summary judgment. Id. The evidence and inferences drawn therefrom must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Id. "The mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment." Id.
At the time of Martinez' trial, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(a) provided that:
(a) Judgment as a Matter of Law.
(1) In General. If aparty has been fully heard on an issue during ajury trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for the party on that issue, the court may:
(A) resolve the issue against the party; and
(B) grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue.
(2) Motion. A motion for judgment as a matter of law may be made at any time before the case is submitted to the jury. The motion must specify the judgment sought and the law and facts that entitle the movant to the judgment.
USCA Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50 (2002).
Often it appears to the court or to the moving party that a motion for judgment as a matter of law made at the close of the evidence should be reserved for a post-verdict decision. This is so because a jury verdict for the moving party moots the issue and because a pre-verdict ruling gambles that a reversal may result in a new trial that might have been avoided. For these reasons, the court may often wisely decline to rule on a motion for judgment as a matter of law made at the close of the evidence, and it is not inappropriate for the moving party to suggest such a postponement of the ruling until after the verdict has been rendered. Fed. R. Civ. R 50(b) advisory committee's note (emphasis added).
The Supreme Court has also held that, under Rule 50 (b), if a party moves for a directed verdict at the close of the evidence and the trial judge elects to send the case to the jury, even if the trial court judge does not explicitly reserve ruling, the judge is "deemed" to have reserved decision on the motion. Neely v. Martin K. Eby Constr. Co., 386 U.S. 317, 321, 87 S. Ct. 1072, 18 L. Ed. 2d 75 (1967) (citations omitted).
C&C argues that the trial court's partial denial of C&C's pre-verdict Rule 50(a) motion was in error because, there was insufficient evidence that an implied contract existed. C&C contends that in (he absence of an implied contract, no damages should be awarded whatsoever. Martinez argues that the trial court erred in partially granting Martinez' Rule 50(a) motion and remitting the jury award.
Prior to amendment, Rule 50(b) motions were referred to as motions for "judgment notwithstanding the verdict". See Fed. R. Civ. P. 50 advisory committee note (if a motion is denominated a renewed motion for directed verdict, renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law or motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, the nomenclature is merely formal. Such a motion should be treated as a motion for judgment as a matter of law in accordance with FED. RULE CIV. P. 50) As such, the terms "judgment notwithstanding the verdict (j.n.o.v.)" "renewed motion for directed verdict" and "renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law are used interchangeably.
Where a party fails to file a post-verdict motion under Rule 50(b) (judgment notwithstanding the verdict) "the appellate court [is] without power to direct (he [trial court] to enter judgment contrary to the one it had permitted to stand." Cone v. West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co., 330 U.S. 212, 218, 67 S. Ct. 752, 91 L. Ed. 849 (1947) (citations omitted).
In a series of pre-1967 cases, including Johnson, Cone and Unitherm, the Supreme Court gave a great deal of deference to trial court decisions concerning motions for new trials and for directed verdicts. Weisgram v. Marley Co., 528 U.S. 440, 449, 120 S.Ct. 1011, 145 L. Ed. 2d 958 (2000). However, in Neely, the Court reviewed its prior jurisprudence and departed from the ironclad rule which gave overwhelming deference to the trial court's discretion. See Neely v. Martin K. Eby Constr. Co., 386 U.S. 317, 322, 87 S. Ct. 1072, 18 L. Ed. 2d 75 (1967). However, the Court's departure from stiff deference to the trial court did not alleviate litigants from the necessity of filing proper post-verdict renewed requests for judgment as a matter of law. See Neely, 386 U.S. at 327 (Court may directed entry of judgment for a verdict loser whose proper request for judgment n. o. v. had been wrongly denied by the [trial] court).
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has followed the Supreme Court's guidance concerning this issue. See Charles Jacquin Et Cie, Inc. v. Destileria Serralles, Inc., 921 F.2d 467, 475 (3d Cir. 1990) ("Where a party has failed to move for j.n.o.v., we will not review the sufficiency of the evidence and direct a verdict for them..."); Woods v. National Life and Accident Ins. Co., 347 F.2d 760, 769 (3d Cir. 1965) ("A party's failure to file amotion for judgment n.o.v. in the trial court precludes an examination of the record by that court or this court for the purpose of ascertaining whether that party was entitled to a directed verdict."); Anderson v. Haas, 341 F.2d 497, 502 (3d Cir. 1965) ("We are restrained from considering the entry of judgment for the defendants because counsel failed to renew the motion for a directed verdict by a motion for judgment non obstante veredicto as required under Rule 50.").
After a verdict was rendered and the jury was discharged, the trial court remitted the jury ' s $273,000.00 damages award to $13,483.00 because, it reasoned that there was insufficient evidence to sustain thejury's monetary findings.
Before ordering a remittitur, the court must determine: (1) whether the award was supported by the evidence; (2) whether the jury award was excessive; and, if excessive; (3) whether the amount of the award was so unreasonable as to "shock the conscience." Spence v. Board of Education, 806 F.2d 1198 (3rd Cir. 1986). We may reverse and grant a new trial "only if the verdict is 'so grossly excessive as to shock the judicial conscience.' " Edynak v. Atlantic Shipping, Inc., 562 F.2d 215, 225-26 (3d Cir. 1977) (quoting Russell v. Monongahela Ry., 262 F.2d 349, 352 (3d Cir. 1958)).
Because the trial judge is in the best position to evaluate the evidence and assess whether the jury ' s verdict is rationally based, the use of the remittitur falls within the discretion of the trial judge whose decision cannot be disturbed by a reviewing court absent a manifest abuse of discretion. Gumbs, 823 F.2d at 768-772; Spence v. Bd. of Educ. of the Christina Sch. Dist., 806 F.2d 1198, 1200 (3d Cir. 1986); Murray v. Fairbanks Morse, 610 F.2d 149 (3rd Cir. 1979); Edynak v. Atlantic Shipping, Inc. CIE. Chambon, 562 F.2d 215 (3rd Cir. 1997); Henry v. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp., 163 F.R.D. 237, 33 V.I. 163 (D.V.I. 1995).
This practice is buttressed against "a line of decisions stretching back to 1889 [that] has firmly established that a plaintiff cannot appeal the propriety of a remittitur order to which he has agreed." Donovan v. Penn Shipping Co., 429 U.S. 648, 649, 97 S. Ct. 835, 51 L. Ed. 2d 112(1977)(emphasisadded) citing Kennon v. Gilmer, 131 U.S. 22, 29-30, 9 S. Ct. 696, 33 L. Ed. 110 (1889); Lewis v. Wilson, 151 U.S. 551, 554-555, 14 S. Ct. 419, 38 L. Ed. 267 (1894); Koenigsberger v. Richmond Silver Mining Co., 158 U.S. 41, 52, 15 S. Ct. 751, 39 L. Ed. 889 (1895); Woodworth v. Chesbrough, 244 U.S. 79, 82, 37 S. Ct. 583, 61 L. Ed. 1005 (1917); see also Spence, 806 F.2d at 1206 (internal citations omitted) ("The gravity of accepting the remittitur . is highlighted by the fact that a plaintiff may not appeal the propriety of a remittitur to which s/he had agreed.. .")).
Where a remittitur is employed, the absence of this option cannot be squared with the Seventh Amendment's prohibition on the reexamination of facts determined by a jury. Hetzel, 523 U.S. at 211.
In contrast to the dissent's position, we limit the scope of our remand to solely allow Martinez the option of either electing to accept the remittitur or seeking a new trial. Because the task of properly calculating damages is best left for the finder of fact below, we are of the opinion that this Court should not engage in the fact-finding inquiry that occasions calculating Martinez' damages. This is particularly true where the governing standard of review guides us to defer to the trial court's remittitur determination, absent a "manifest abuse of discretion". See Murray, 610 F.2d at 153 (citing Edynak, 562 F.2d 215 ("the question of the excessiveness of a verdict is primarily a matter to be addressed to the sound discretion of the [trial] judge, and we may not disturb this determination unless a 'manifest abuse of discretion" be shown.")); see also Edynak, 562 F.2d at 226-27 ("The trial judge is in the best position to evaluate the evidence and assess whether the jury's verdict is rationally based.").
Martinez challenges the trial court's summary judgment determination in his opening brief. We may review the trial court's September 25, 2001 pre-trial summary judgment ruling because an appeal from a final judgment, generally, draws in question all prior non-final orders and rulings, where the challenger raises those rulings in is opening brief. See Drinkwater v. Union Carbide Corp., 904 F.2d 853, 858 (3d Cir. 1990); see also Pacitti v. Macy's, 193 F.3d 766, 777 (3d Cir. 1999); Murray v. Commercial Union Ins. Co, 782 F.2d 432, 434 (3d Cir 1986) (when an appellant gives notice in his opening brief that he is appealing from a final order, we may review earlier orders disposing of other claims); see also Williams v Guzzardi, 875 F.2d 46, 49 (3d Cir. 1989) (appellate jurisdiction vests over orders not specified in the notice of appeal if there is a connection between the specified and unspecified order, the intention to appeal the unspecified order is apparent, the opposing party is not prejudiced and has a full opportunity to brief the issues).
The Wrongful Discharge Act does not require exhaustion of administrative remedies or election between administrative and judicial remedies. Hess Oil V.I. Corp. v. Richardson, 894 F. Supp. 211, 213, 32 V.I. 336 (D.V.I. 1995). Accordingly, an employee who has initiated an administrative claim for wrongful discharge is not barred from filing simultaneously or subsequently a WDA action in court. Id.
The Superior Court did, however, allow Martinez to test his wrongful discharge claim on the theory that C&C had an implied contractual duty to rehire him. Martinez argued the surviving implied breach of contract claim at trial.