Carlos carelessly ran a red light, and struck Cantwell, a pedestrian, all in full view of several bystanders. When Cantwell sued Carlos for damages, all the witnesses testified that Carlos did indeed run the light. Nevertheless, the jury found Carlos had met his duty of care and therefore was not liable for the injuries. The judge, however, responding to a motion from Cantwell's attorney, found Carlos negligent and liable on the basis of the overwhelming evidence presented at trial. Which of the following statements best describes the judge's action?

Question

Carlos carelessly ran a red light, and struck Cantwell, a pedestrian, all in full view of several bystanders. When Cantwell sued Carlos for damages, all the witnesses testified that Carlos did indeed run the light. Nevertheless, the jury found Carlos had met his duty of care and therefore was not liable for the injuries. The judge, however, responding to a motion from Cantwell's attorney, found Carlos negligent and liable on the basis of the overwhelming evidence presented at trial. Which of the following statements best describes the judge's action?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The judge's action is known as a judgment non obstante veredicto (n.o.v.), which means judgment notwithstanding the verdict. This allows a judge to reverse a jury's verdict if the judge finds that no reasonable jury could have reached such a verdict based on the evidence presented.

Carlos Carelessly Ran a Red Light, and Struck Cantwell, a Pedestrian