Chapter 805

805.10 805.10 Examination of witnesses; arguments. Unless the judge otherwise orders, not more than one attorney for each side shall examine or cross-examine a witness and not more than 2 attorneys on each side shall sum up to the jury. The plaintiff shall be entitled to the opening and final rebuttal arguments. Plaintiff’s rebuttal shall be limited to matters raised by any adverse party in argument. Waiver of argument by either party shall not preclude the adverse party from making any argument which the adverse party would otherwise have been entitled to make. Before the argument is begun, the court may limit the time for argument.

805.10 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 701 (1975); 1975 c. 218.

805.10 Annotation An attorney’s concession during closing argument that the attorney’s client was negligent could not be construed as a binding admission. Kuzmic v. Kreutzmann, 100 Wis. 2d 48, 301 N.W.2d 266 (Ct. App. 1980).

805.10 Annotation This section authorizes judges to allow more than two attorneys on each side to sum up to the jury, but a judge may not limit to fewer than two the number of attorneys arguing on each side. Waukesha County Department of Social Services v. C.E.W., 124 Wis. 2d 47, 368 N.W.2d 47 (1985).

805.11 805.11 Objections; exceptions.

805.11(1) (1) Any party who has fair opportunity to object before a ruling or order is made must do so in order to avoid waiving error. An objection is not necessary after a ruling or order is made.

805.11(2) (2) A party raising an objection must specify the grounds on which the party predicates the objection or claim of error.

805.11(3) (3) Exceptions shall never be made.

805.11(4) (4) Evidentiary objections are governed by s. 901.03.

805.11 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 701 (1975); 1975 c. 218.

805.12 805.12 Special verdicts.

805.12(1) (1) Use. Unless it orders otherwise, the court shall direct the jury to return a special verdict. The verdict shall be prepared by the court in the form of written questions relating only to material issues of ultimate fact and admitting a direct answer. The jury shall answer in writing. In cases founded upon negligence, the court need not submit separately any particular respect in which the party was allegedly negligent. The court may also direct the jury to find upon particular questions of fact.

805.12(2) (2) Omitted issue. When some material issue of ultimate fact not brought to the attention of the trial court but essential to sustain the judgment is omitted from the verdict, the issue shall be deemed determined by the court in conformity with its judgment and the failure to request a finding by the jury on the issue shall be deemed a waiver of jury trial on that issue.

805.12(3) (3) Clerk’s entries after verdict. Upon receiving a verdict, the clerk shall make an entry on the minutes specifying the time the verdict was received and the court’s order setting time for motions after verdict under s. 805.16. The verdict and special findings shall be filed.

805.12 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 702 (1975); 1975 c. 218.

805.12 Annotation If the court can find as a matter of law that a party is causally negligent, contrary to the jury’s answer, and the jury attributes some degree of comparative negligence to that party, the court should change the causal negligence answer and permit the jury’s comparison to stand. Ollinger v. Grall, 80 Wis. 2d 213, 258 N.W.2d 693 (1977).

805.12 Annotation If the answer to one material question shows that the jury answered perversely, the court should set aside the entire verdict unless the court is satisfied that the other questions were not affected by the perversity. Fouse v. Persons, 80 Wis. 2d 390, 259 N.W.2d 92 (1977).

805.12 Annotation When the verdict form did not contain a special fact question regarding the major issue of the case, the real issues had not been tried. Schulz v. St. Mary’s Hospital, 81 Wis. 2d 638, 260 N.W.2d 783 (1978).

805.12 Annotation If evidence conflicts and inconsistent theories on the cause of the event are advanced, instructions on both theories should be given. Sentell v. Higby, 87 Wis. 2d 44, 273 N.W.2d 780 (Ct. App. 1978).

805.12 Annotation An inconsistent verdict, if not timely remedied by reconsideration by the jury, must result in a new trial unless the party injured by the inconsistency waives the portion of its damage claim and the waiver does not result in a change of the prevailing party as found by the jury. Westfall v. Kottke, 110 Wis. 2d 86, 328 N.W.2d 481 (1983).

805.12 Annotation Ambiguities in jury questions were “omitted issues” under sub. (2) and properly determined by the trial court. Badtke v. Badtke, 122 Wis. 2d 730, 364 N.W.2d 547 (Ct. App. 1985).

805.12 Annotation A special verdict must cover material issues of ultimate fact. The form of a special verdict is discretionary with the trial court, and an appellate court will not interfere as long as all material issues of fact are covered by appropriate questions. Industrial Risk Insurers v. American Engineering Testing, Inc., 2009 WI App 62, 318 Wis. 2d 148, 769 N.W.2d 82, 08-0484.

805.12 Annotation The trial court cannot submit a case on one theory and resort to sub. (2) to dispose of it on another theory. Under s. 805.13 (3), the parties confer, with the trial court’s supervision, on the instructions and special verdict that will go to the jury. If a party has an objection, the party must voice it, or it will be waived. If the special verdict leaves out an essential material issue of ultimate fact of a cause of action pled and presented to the jury, and the jury’s answers define, by necessary implication, what the missing issue should be, then, under sub. (2), the trial court may “fill in” this missing issue. But the trial court cannot “fill in” a missing cause of action. Hansen v. Texas Roadhouse, Inc., 2013 WI App 2, 345 Wis. 2d 669, 827 N.W.2d 99, 10-3137.

805.12 Annotation Special Verdict Formulation in Wisconsin. Decker & Decker. 60 MLR 201 (1977).

805.12 Annotation Product Liability Verdict Formulation in Wisconsin. Slattery, Terschan, & Griffin. 61 MLR 381 (1978).

805.13 805.13 Jury instructions; note taking; form of verdict.

805.13(1) (1) Statements by judge. After the trial jury is sworn, all statements or comments by the judge to the jury or in their presence relating to the case shall be on the record.

805.13(2) (2) Preliminary instructions and note taking.

805.13(2)(a) (a) After the trial jury is sworn, the court shall determine if the jurors may take notes of the proceedings:

805.13(2)(a)1. 1. If the court authorizes note-taking, the court shall instruct the jurors that they may make written notes of the proceedings, except the opening statements and closing arguments, if they so desire and that the court will provide materials for that purpose if they so request. The court shall stress the confidentiality of the notes to the jurors. The jurors may refer to their notes during the proceedings and deliberation. The notes may not be the basis for or the object of any motion by any party. After the jury has rendered its verdict, the court shall ensure that the notes are promptly collected and destroyed.

805.13(2)(a)2. 2. If the court does not authorize note-taking, the court shall state the reasons for the determination on the record.

805.13(2)(b) (b) The court may give additional preliminary instructions to assist the jury in understanding its duty and the evidence it will hear. The preliminary instructions may include, without limitation, a description of the nature of the case, what constitutes evidence and what does not, guidance regarding the burden of proof and the credibility of witnesses, and directions not to discuss the case until deliberations begin. Any such preliminary jury instructions may be given again in the charge at the close of the evidence. The additional preliminary instructions shall be disclosed to the parties before they are given and either party may object to any specific instruction or propose instructions of its own to be given prior to trial.

805.13(3) (3) Instruction and verdict conference. At the close of the evidence and before arguments to the jury, the court shall conduct a conference with counsel outside the presence of the jury. At the conference, or at such earlier time as the court reasonably directs, counsel may file written motions that the court instruct the jury on the law, and submit verdict questions, as set forth in the motions. The court shall inform counsel on the record of its proposed action on the motions and of the instructions and verdict it proposes to submit. Counsel may object to the proposed instructions or verdict on the grounds of incompleteness or other error, stating the grounds for objection with particularity on the record. Failure to object at the conference constitutes a waiver of any error in the proposed instructions or verdict.

805.13(4) (4) Instruction. The court shall instruct the jury before or after closing arguments of counsel. Failure to object to a material variance or omission between the instructions given and the instructions proposed does not constitute a waiver of error. The court shall provide the jury with one complete set of written instructions providing the burden of proof and the substantive law to be applied to the case to be decided.

805.13(5) (5) Reinstruction. After the jury retires, the court may reinstruct the jury as to all or any part of the instructions previously given, or may give supplementary instructions as it deems appropriate.

805.13 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 703 (1975); 1975 c. 218; 1979 c. 128; 1981 c. 358; Sup. Ct. Order, 130 Wis. 2d xi (1987).

805.13 Note Judicial Council Note, 1986: Sub. (2) (b) is amended to provide that preliminary instructions may include a description of the nature of the case, what constitutes evidence and what does not, guidance regarding the burden of proof and the credibility of witnesses, and directions not to discuss the case until deliberations begin.

Effective date note Sub. (4) is amended to required that the court provide the jury one written copy of its instructions regarding the burden of proof. [Re Order eff. 7-1-86]

805.13 Annotation Specific evidentiary facts may be incorporated into an instruction provided they do not lead the jury to believe that the court has prejudged the evidence. State v. Dix, 86 Wis. 2d 474, 273 N.W.2d 250 (1979).

805.13 Annotation Under sub. (3), a failure to object waives errors of substance as well as of form. Gyldenvand v. Schroeder, 90 Wis. 2d 690, 280 N.W.2d 235 (1979).

805.13 Annotation It was proper to instruct the jury that it need not consider a lesser offense if the jury found the defendant guilty of a higher one. State v. McNeal, 95 Wis. 2d 63, 288 N.W.2d 874 (Ct. App. 1980).

805.13 Annotation Although failure to object at the verdict conference to a substantive defect in the verdict constituted waiver, failure to object did not preclude the court’s consideration of the defect under s. 751.06. Clark v. Leisure Vehicles, Inc., 96 Wis. 2d 607, 292 N.W.2d 630 (1980).

805.13 Annotation When an objection at the verdict conference was not specific enough to preserve an appeal, the supreme court reversed the trial court under s. 751.06. Air Wisconsin, Inc. v. North Central Airlines, Inc., 98 Wis. 2d 301, 296 N.W.2d 749 (1980).

805.13 Annotation Under the separation of powers doctrine, sub. (4) and s. 972.10 (5) require submission of written instructions to the jury on the substantive law but do not require an automatic reversal when the trial court fails to do so. Instructions on the burden of proof and presumption of innocence are procedural, not substantive, law. E.B. v. State, 111 Wis. 2d 175, 330 N.W.2d 584 (1983).

805.13 Annotation When an alleged error went to the integrity of the fact-finding process, the trial court exercised its discretion to review the circumstantial evidence instruction irrespective of the defendant’s waiver of objection. State v. Shah, 134 Wis. 2d 246, 397 N.W.2d 492 (1986).

805.13 Annotation It is not error for the trial court to fail to instruct sua sponte on a lesser-included offense. The trial court should not interfere with the parties’ trial strategy. State v. Myers, 158 Wis. 2d 356, 461 N.W.2d 777 (1990).

805.13 Annotation Instructional rulings are to be made at the close of the evidence. A party is not entitled to a mid-trial advisory ruling on whether an instruction will be given. Such a ruling, if given, is nonbinding and not subject to appeal. State v. Sohn, 193 Wis. 2d 346, 535 N.W.2d 1 (Ct. App. 1995).

805.13 Annotation If an attorney disagrees with an instruction that a judge decides to give during an off-the-record conference, the attorney must object to the instruction on the record to preserve the issue for appeal. Steinberg v. Jensen, 204 Wis. 2d 115, 553 N.W.2d 820 (Ct. App. 1996), 92-2475.

805.13 Annotation Appellate courts have no power to reach waived issues concerning unobjected to jury instructions. State v. Ward, 228 Wis. 2d 301, 596 N.W.2d 887 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-2530.

805.13 Annotation A party is not held to a waiver under sub. (3) when a potentially inconsistent verdict is produced by the substance of the jury’s verdict, as opposed to the wording of the verdict. LaCombe v. Aurora Medical Group, Inc., 2004 WI App 119, 274 Wis. 2d 771, 683 N.W.2d 532, 03-2093.

805.13 Annotation A party waives all claims of error not raised in motions after verdict although a timely objection was made at trial. This rule applies to an asserted jury instruction error objected to under sub. (3). Suchomel v. University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, 2005 WI App 234, 288 Wis. 2d 188, 708 N.W.2d 13, 04-0363.

805.13 Annotation A trial court’s decision to read jury instructions on damages prior to certain testimony was a proper exercise of discretion, and the court properly denied the defendant’s motion for mistrial. Because the instructions were not disclosed to the parties before they were read by the court, the reading did not qualify as a preliminary instruction under sub. (2) (b). The trial court had broad discretion over the conduct of litigation and saw a need to orient the jury to the subject matter of the testimony when the evidence was jumping from expert testimony to fact testimony to damage testimony in a long and complex trial. Estate of Hegarty v. Beauchaine, 2006 WI App 248, 297 Wis. 2d 70, 727 N.W.2d 857, 04-3252.

805.13 Annotation A jury instruction that does not accurately state the statutory requirements for the crime charged constitutes an erroneous statement of the law. Harmless error analysis is appropriate when jury instructions include a requirement in addition to that set forth in a statute. The jury instructions cannot provide the proper standard for analysis. A challenge must be reviewed in the context of the statutory requirements. State v. Beamon, 2013 WI 47, 347 Wis. 2d 559, 830 N.W.2d 681, 10-2003.

805.13 Annotation Defining the meaning of a word in a jury instruction is akin to defining the meaning of a word in a statute. Determining the meaning of the word in a jury instruction is a legal question that appellate courts review de novo. When the word is not defined in the jury instruction, the appellate court will assign the word its common, ordinary, and accepted meaning, which may be ascertained by resort to a dictionary. State v. Bowen, 2015 WI App 12, 359 Wis. 2d 659, 859 N.W.2d 166, 14-0767.

805.13 Annotation In this case, the defendant waived the defendant’s objection to the use of a jury instruction by failing to object at the jury instruction and verdict conference as required under sub. (3). The defendant’s post-conviction challenge to the jury instruction could have been made at trial, and the fact that law review articles that the defendant claims support the defendant’s position were published after the defendant’s conviction did not render the objection “unknowable” at the time of the conference. State v. Trammell, 2019 WI 59, 387 Wis. 2d 156, 928 N.W.2d 564, 17-1206.

805.13 Annotation The court of appeals has no power to reach an unobjected-to jury instruction under sub. (3) because the court of appeals lacks a discretionary power of review. However, the supreme court possesses a discretionary power of review that the court may exercise when a matter is properly before the court. State v. Trammell, 2019 WI 59, 387 Wis. 2d 156, 928 N.W.2d 564, 17-1206.

805.14 805.14 Motions challenging sufficiency of evidence; motions after verdict.

805.14(1) (1) Test of sufficiency of evidence. No motion challenging the sufficiency of the evidence as a matter of law to support a verdict, or an answer in a verdict, shall be granted unless the court is satisfied that, considering all credible evidence and reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the party against whom the motion is made, there is no credible evidence to sustain a finding in favor of such party.

805.14(2) (2) Nonsuit abolished; misdesignation of motions.

805.14(2)(a) (a) The involuntary nonsuit is abolished. If a motion for involuntary nonsuit is made, it shall be treated as a motion to dismiss.

805.14(2)(b) (b) When a party mistakenly designates a motion to dismiss as a motion for directed verdict, or vice versa; or mistakenly designates a motion to change answer as a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or vice versa; or otherwise mistakenly designates a motion challenging the sufficiency of evidence as a matter of law, the court shall treat the motion as if there had been a proper designation.

805.14(3) (3) Motion at close of plaintiff’s evidence. At the close of plaintiff’s evidence in trials to the jury, any defendant may move for dismissal on the ground of insufficiency of evidence. If the court determines that the defendant is entitled to dismissal, the court shall state with particularity on the record or in its order of dismissal the grounds upon which the dismissal was granted and shall render judgment against the plaintiff.

805.14(4) (4) Motion at close of all evidence. In trials to the jury, at the close of all evidence, any party may challenge the sufficiency of the evidence as a matter of law by moving for directed verdict or dismissal or by moving the court to find as a matter of law upon any claim or defense or upon any element or ground thereof.

805.14(5) (5) Motions after verdict.

805.14(5)(a) (a) Motion for judgment. A motion for judgment on the verdict is not required. If no motion after verdict is filed within the time period specified in s. 805.16, judgment shall be entered on the verdict at the expiration thereof. If a motion after verdict is timely filed, judgment on the verdict shall be entered upon denial of the motion.

805.14(5)(b) (b) Motion for judgment notwithstanding verdict. A party against whom a verdict has been rendered may move the court for judgment notwithstanding the verdict in the event that the verdict is proper but, for reasons evident in the record which bear upon matters not included in the verdict, the movant should have judgment.

805.14(5)(c) (c) Motion to change answer. Any party may move the court to change an answer in the verdict on the ground of insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the answer.

805.14(5)(d) (d) Motion for directed verdict. A party who has made a motion for directed verdict or dismissal on which the court has not ruled pending return of the verdict may renew the motion after verdict. In the event the motion is granted, the court may enter judgment in accordance with the motion.

805.14(5)(e) (e) Preliminary motions. It is not necessary to move for a directed verdict or dismissal prior to submission of the case to the jury in order to move subsequently for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or to change answer.

805.14(5)(f) (f) Telephone hearings. Motions under this subsection may be heard as prescribed in s. 807.13.

805.14(6) (6) Grounds to be stated with particularity. In any motion challenging the sufficiency of evidence, the grounds of the motion shall be stated with particularity. Mere conclusory statements and statements lacking express reference to the specific element of claim or defense as to which the evidence is claimed to be deficient shall be deemed insufficient to entitle the movant to the order sought. If the court grants a motion challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, the court shall state on the record or in writing with particularity the evidentiary defect underlying the order.

805.14(7) (7) Effect of order of dismissal. Unless the court in its order for dismissal otherwise specifies for good cause recited in the order, any dismissal under this section operates as an adjudication upon the merits.

805.14(8) (8) Nonwaiver. A party who moves for dismissal or for a directed verdict at the close of the evidence offered by an opponent may offer evidence in the event that the motion is not granted without having reserved the right to do so and to the same extent as if the motion had not been made. A motion for a directed verdict which is not granted is not a waiver of trial by jury even though all parties to the action have moved for directed verdict.

805.14(9) (9) Involuntary dismissal of counterclaim, cross claim or 3rd-party claim. This section applies to counterclaims, cross claims, and 3rd-party claims.

805.14 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 704 (1975); Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d vii (1975); 1975 c. 218; Sup. Ct. Order, 73 Wis. 2d xxxi (1986); Sup. Ct. Order, 118 Wis. 2d xiii (1984); Sup. Ct. Order, 141 Wis. 2d xiii (1987); 2005 a. 253; 2007 a. 97.

805.14 Note Judicial Council Committee’s Note, 1976: Sub. (3) applies only to trials to the jury, codifying Household Utilities, Inc. v. Andrews Co., 71 Wis. 2nd 17 (1976). The standard for granting a motion under sub. (3) is found in sub. (1). Motions made by a defendant for dismissal after a plaintiff has completed presenting his evidence in trials to the court is governed by s. 805.17 (1). [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1977]

805.14 Note Judicial Council Note, 1984: Sub. (5) (a) is amended by eliminating the requirement for a motion before judgment is entered on a verdict. [Re Order effective July 1, 1984]

805.14 Note Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (5) (f) [created] allows motions after verdict to be heard by telephone conference. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]

805.14 Annotation An inconsistent verdict, if not timely remedied by reconsideration by the jury, must result in a new trial unless the party injured by the inconsistency waives the portion of its damage claim and the waiver does not result in a change of the prevailing party as found by the jury. Westfall v. Kottke, 110 Wis. 2d 86, 328 N.W.2d 481 (1983).

805.14 Annotation If there is any credible evidence that, under any reasonable view, fairly admits of an inference that supports the jury’s finding, the finding may not be overturned. General Star Indemnity Co. v. Bankruptcy Estate of Lake Geneva Sugar Shack, Inc., 215 Wis. 2d 104, 572 N.W.2d 881 (Ct. App. 1997), 96-2156.

805.14 Annotation A party waives all claims of error not raised in motions after verdict although a timely objection was made at trial. This rule applies to an asserted jury instruction error objected to under s. 805.13 (3). Suchomel v. University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, 2005 WI App 234, 288 Wis. 2d 188, 708 N.W.2d 13, 04-0363.

805.14 Annotation Generally, when jury instructions conform to the statutory requirements of an offense, the court reviews the sufficiency of the evidence by comparison to those jury instructions. State v. Coughlin, 2022 WI 43, 402 Wis. 2d 107, 975 N.W.2d 179, 19-1876.

805.15 805.15 New trials.

805.15(1) (1) Motion. A party may move to set aside a verdict and for a new trial because of errors in the trial, or because the verdict is contrary to law or to the weight of evidence, or because of excessive or inadequate damages, or because of newly-discovered evidence, or in the interest of justice. Motions under this subsection may be heard as prescribed in s. 807.13. Orders granting a new trial on grounds other than in the interest of justice, need not include a finding that granting a new trial is also in the interest of justice.

805.15(2) (2) Order. Every order granting a new trial shall specify the grounds therefor. No order granting a new trial shall be valid or effective unless the reasons that prompted the court to make such order are set forth on the record, or in the order or in a written decision. In such order, the court may grant, deny or defer the awarding of costs.

805.15(3) (3) Except as provided in ss. 974.07 (10) (b) and 980.101 (2) (b), a new trial shall be ordered on the grounds of newly-discovered evidence if the court finds that:

805.15(3)(a) (a) The evidence has come to the moving party’s notice after trial; and

805.15(3)(b) (b) The moving party’s failure to discover the evidence earlier did not arise from lack of diligence in seeking to discover it; and

805.15(3)(c) (c) The evidence is material and not cumulative; and