Verdict

Verdict refers to the decision reached by a jury following a trial, which must be accepted by the trial judge as final. It’s important to note that a judgment by a judge sitting without a jury is not considered a verdict. There are various types of verdicts, such as a “special verdict,” where the jury decides on factual questions, leaving the application of the law to the judge for the final judgment. Another type is a “directed verdict,” which occurs when the judge instructs the jury to bring in a specific verdict based on the evidence presented. However, certain types of verdicts, like a “chance verdict” (decided by lot or coin flip), a “compromise verdict” (resulting from jurors voting against their beliefs to break a deadlock), and a “quotient verdict” (averaging jurors’ desired awards) are improper and can lead to a mistrial or reversal of the judgment on appeal.