Dietz v. Bouldin

• federal courts
• civil procedure
• jury
• VERDICT

Can a federal court, after discharging a jury, recall the jurors and direct them to deliberate further in order to correct an invalid verdict?

After a judge has discharged a jury from service in a case and the jurors have left the judge’s presence, may the judge recall the jurors for further service in the same case?

In August 2009, respondent Hillary Bouldin, while driving his car, struck petitioner Rocky Dietz’s car. See Dietz v. Bouldin, 794 F.3d 1093, 1095 (9th Cir. 2015). Dietz sued Bouldin in Montana state court for physical and mental injuries sustained as a result of the accident. See id. The case was removed to federal court, and prior to trial, Bouldin admitted that the accident was his fault and that Dietz’s injuries resulted from the accident. See id. Dietz and Bouldin stipulated that Dietz was entitled to at least $10,136, the total medical expenses incurred from the accident up to that point. See id. Accordingly, the only amount in dispute at trial was the amount of future damages that Bouldin was liable for. See id. At trial, Dietz presented evidence that he would require physical therapy, medication, and injections for pain. See id. Bouldin, however, took issue with Dietz’s claims, citing Dietz’s pre-existing medical conditions and asserting that some of Dietz’s claimed future medical expenses did not stem directly from the accident. See id. Bouldin also argued that Dietz was overstating the amount of medical care he would actually seek. See id.

During closing arguments, Bouldin’s attorney reminded the jury of the parties’ stipulation regarding medical expenses and explained that their award should also include an amount for reasonably probable future medical care. See Dietz, 794 F.3d at 1095. While the jury deliberated, one of the jurors sent a message to the judge, asking whether the previously incurred medical expenses had been paid, and if so, by whom. See id. The judge responded that the information was not relevant to the jury’s verdict. The judge did, however, discuss with Dietz’s and Bouldin’s attorneys his concerns that the jury might not understand that their verdict had to cover, at minimum, the amount of stipulated damages. See id.

The jury found in favor of Dietz, but awarded him damages in the total amount of $0. See Dietz, 794 F.3d at 1095. The judge realized that such a verdict was invalid, but only after he had dismissed the jury and called the court into recess. See id. at 1095–96. He immediately recalled the jurors and explained to them that their verdict was inconsistent with the parties’ stipulation regarding prior medical expenses. See id. at 1096. The judge asked the jurors whether any of them had been influenced by outside factors during the period that that they were dismissed, and when they collectively responded that they had not, he ordered them to reconvene to issue a new verdict. See id. Dietz objected to this procedure and moved for a mistrial, which the judge denied. See id. The jury, after reconvening, awarded Dietz the sum of $15,000. See id.

Dietz appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, arguing that the district court’s recalling the jury after it had been dismissed violated due process. See Dietz, 794 F.3d at 1096. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the lower court’s ruling, finding that the district court judge, in immediately recalling the jury and determining that they had not been affected by outside influence, acted appropriately within his discretion. See id. at 1102. Dietz subsequently petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for writ of certiorari, which the Court granted on January 19, 2016. See Brief for Petitioner, Rocky Dietz at 1.

Dietz argues that federal courts cannot re-empanel juries because judges lack inherent authority to do so. Likewise, he contends, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not grant judges express authority over jurors after they are discharged. See Brief for Petitioner, Rocky Dietz at 13. Dietz urges the Court to establish a “bright-line rule” against recalling discharged jurors for further instruction and deliberation. See id. at 33. Bouldin contends that federal courts have the inherent authority to correct an error of judicial process and that the federal rules do not divest courts of this authority. See Brief for Respondent, Hillary Bouldin at 18, 25. Bouldin also argues that there is no justification in this situation for the Court to exercise its supervisory powers to construct a bright-line rule. See id. at 44.

FEDERAL COURTS’ AUTHORITY TO RECALL DISCHARGED JURORS

Dietz argues that federal courts do not have inherent or express authority to recall discharged jurors for further service in a case. See Brief for Petitioner at 23. Dietz contends that recalling discharged jurors fails the Court’s three-part test for inherent authority. See id. First, Dietz claims that it conflicts with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 51(b)(3), which allows federal courts to deliver jury instructions only before the jury is dismissed, but not after. See id. at 24. Second, Dietz maintains that there is no “long unquestioned” history of courts exercising a recall power. See id. at 25. Third, Dietz argues that such power is not necessary or sufficiently limited, pointing to existing rules, such as Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59, which provide remedies for invalid verdicts after the jury is discharged, such as a new trial. See id. at 31–32.

Dietz asserts that federal courts also lack express authority under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. According to Dietz, the silence in the rules on this issue implies that courts are prohibited from recalling jurors after they are discharged. See Brief for Petitioner at 14. Dietz again relies on Rules 51(b)(3) and 59, as well as Rules 50(b) and 48(c), all of which either do not grant this authority or terminate powers over the jury upon discharge. See id. at 14–17. Finally, Dietz argues that federal courts also lack express authority over discharged jurors because after the jurors are discharged, they become ordinary citizens and cease to be part of a jury. See id. at 18.

Bouldin counters that a federal court has the inherent authority to undo its own pronouncement of jury discharge to correct an improper verdict, and gives three principles that have emerged from the cases regarding inherent authority. See Brief for Respondent at 18, 22. First, Bouldin claims that a federal court has the inherent authority to correct an error of judicial process under United States v. Morgan, 307 U.S. 183 (1939). See id. at 18. Second, Bouldin argues that federal courts have the inherent authority to “manage their own affairs so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.” See id. at 19. Third, Bouldin maintains that federal courts have the power to modify or rescind an order before final judgment. See id. Bouldin does not acknowledge a three-part test for inherent authority, but contends that the federal rules are silent regarding whether a federal court may recall discharged jurors. See id. at 25. Additionally, Bouldin argues that there is no requirement for inherent powers to have a “long unquestioned” history, and also maintains that courts have recalled dismissed juries since at least 1855. See id. at 31. Finally, Bouldin argues that the Court only requires the exercise of inherent powers to “be a reasonable response to the problems and needs that provoke [their use,]” and that recalling the jury in this case was expedient, just, and narrowly tailored. See id. at 38–39.

Bouldin further contends that because a federal court has the inherent authority to recall discharged jurors, it does not need the Federal Rules to grant it express authority. See Brief for Respondent at 25. Bouldin contends that the Rules’ silence on the issue does not imply a prohibition. See id. at 25–26. Finally, Bouldin argues that each of the Rules that Dietz relies on do not apply to correcting an improper verdict. See id. at 26–29.

A NEW “BRIGHT-LINE RULE”

If the Court finds that a federal court could recall discharged jurors, Dietz argues that the Court should establish a “bright-line rule” against calling discharged jurors to reconsider a verdict. See Brief for Petitioner at 33. Dietz contends that a bright-line rule “strikes a sensible balance between considerations of fairness and economy.” See id. Dietz first argues that the rule would promote fairness, because jurors are subject to outside influence and coercion upon discharge or may change their minds or soon become confused about the events of the trial. See id. at 34–35. Second, Dietz contends that the rule promotes finality. Otherwise, judges could always reopen cases by arguing that juries could return without undue prejudice, and verdicts would always be subject to challenge without an appeal. See id. at 38. Dietz also maintains that any interest in expediency does not outweigh the considerations of fairness and finality. See id. at 39–40. Dietz asserts that expediency should not be favored at all costs and that other federal rules exist to fix errors before discharge or provide for a new trial. See id.

Bouldin maintains that the Supreme Court’s supervisory powers should “be sparingly used,” and argues that petitioner’s proposed bright-line rule would undermine fairness, finality, and efficiency concerns. See Brief for Respondent at 44, 51, 53. First, Bouldin contends that Dietz’s proposed rule would undermine fairness by mandating new trials when they are unnecessary, and would encourage parties that notice an error to remain silent until after jurors are discharged, in order to get an improper “second bite of the apple.” See id. at 50–51. Further, he argues that Dietz’s concerns about fairness if the jury is recalled are unfounded, since voir dire can expose improper outside influence and because the jury must have already been confused if it submitted an improper verdict. See id. at 48–49. Second, Bouldin argues that recalling a jury will always achieve finality quicker than a new trial, and points to Due Process limitations that already place boundaries on how long after discharge a jury can be recalled. See id. at 51–52. Finally, Bouldin argues that recalling a jury is always more efficient than scheduling a new trial. See id. at 53.

The Court will decide whether federal courts possess the authority to recall discharged jurors to correct an improper verdict. The Court’s resolution of this case will implicate concerns about judicial fairness and finality.

JUDICIAL FAIRNESS AND FINALITY

Dietz contends that jurors, after dismissal, are free to discuss the case and are vulnerable to outside influence, especially considering the current availability of electronic communications and mobile devices. See Brief for Petitioner, Rocky Dietz at 34. Additionally, Dietz asserts that the possibility that a juror could be recalled could confuse or even coerce jurors, which threatens the constitutional right to a fair trial. See id. at 35. Dietz contends that a bright-line rule prohibiting the recalling of jurors after a final verdict would avoid the “madness” of scenarios where judges could recall jurors days after a final verdict, or where attorneys could file motions to do the same. See id. at 38–39. 

Bouldin counters that a bright-line rule requiring a new trial when one is unnecessary would undermine public confidence in judicial fairness.  See Brief for Respondent, Hillary Bouldin at 50.  Bouldin explains that, under a bright-line rule, a party that is unhappy with a verdict and realizes the verdict contains an obvious error could refrain from objecting until after the jury is discharged, thus attempting to unfairly obtain a new trial.  See id. at 50–51.  Bouldin also argues that finality would be undermined, not reinforced, by a bright-line rule requiring a new trial.  See id. at 51.  Bouldin explains that, in the instant case, the invalid verdict would have had to have been thrown out under such a bright-line rule.  See id.  Bouldin concludes that recalling the jury enabled the lower court to obtain a final judgment the next day, as opposed to having to undergo the entirety of a new trial in order to obtain a final judgment.  See id.  Accordingly, Bouldin asserts that denying courts’ discretion to recall jurors when appropriate would result in judicial inefficiency.  See id. at 53.

In this case, the Court will consider whether federal courts can recall discharged jurors to reconsider a verdict. See Brief for Petitioner, Rocky Dietz at 2; Brief for Respondent, Hillary Bouldin at 22. Dietz argues that federal courts do not have the inherent authority to recall jurors after they are discharged and contends that nothing in the federal rules gives them express authority over jurors in this situation. See Brief for Petitioner at 13. Bouldin argues that federal courts have the inherent authority to fix a judicial process error and that the federal rules do not take this authority away from federal courts. See Brief for Respondent at 18, 25. But Dietz proposes that the Court should establish a specific rule against recalling jurors for further instruction and deliberation any time after they have been discharged. See Brief for Petitioner at 33. Bouldin contends that Dietz offers no legitimate justification for the Court to exercise its supervisory powers to construct the proposed rule.  See Brief for Respondent at 44. This decision will impact the fairness and finality of jury verdicts and judicial efficiency in federal court proceedings.

• Brandon Christian, If At First You Don’t Succeed: Understanding Judicial Doctrines of Finality, The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 85, No. 5 (May, 2011).