A general verdict declares which party prevails and the damages awarded, without specifying findings on individual elements. It contrasts with a special verdict requiring written findings on each factual question.
Rule 49(b) permits a general verdict with interrogatories.
Alternative Names:
General Verdict Form, Simple Verdict
Why it Matters?
A general verdict is difficult to challenge because there is no record of the reasoning, which means an appellate court may uphold it on any theory the evidence supported. That cuts against a defendant who prevailed on some theories and lost on others, since the verdict does not reveal which the jury accepted. Requesting special interrogatories addresses that and creates a reviewable record.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Why is a general verdict hard to challenge?
What is the alternative?
