Rieger v. Giant Eagle, Inc. (Slip Opinion)

Rieger v. Giant Eagle, Inc. (Slip Opinion)

There was insufficient evidence as a matter of law to establish causation for Rieger’s negligence and negligent-entrustment claims; therefore the trial court should have granted Giant Eagle’s Civ.R. 50(A)(4) motion for a directed verdict and judgment is entered for Giant Eagle.

Citation
2019 Ohio 3745
Parties
Appellee/plaintiff: Barbara Rieger; Appellant/defendant: Giant Eagle, Inc.; Driver/defendant (deceased): Ruth Kurka (decedent)
Court
Ohio Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
United States
Judgment Date
19 September 2019
Case Number
2018-0883
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal — Personal Injury/tort / Appeal to Ohio Supreme Court From Court of Appeals Judgment
Outcome
Judgment of court of appeals reversed; judgment entered in favor of Giant Eagle, Inc.
Legal Topics
Negligence, Negligent Entrustment, Causation, Directed Verdict (civ.r. 50(a)(4)), Punitive Damages
Source Language
English
Torts Civil Procedure Evidence Negligence Negligent Entrustment Causation Directed Verdict (civ.r. 50(a)(4)) Punitive Damages

Case Brief

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Parties

Barbara Rieger

Appellee/plaintiff

Giant Eagle, Inc.

Appellant/defendant

Ruth Kurka (decedent)

Driver/defendant (deceased)

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal — Personal Injury/tort / Appeal to Ohio Supreme Court From Court of Appeals Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether there was legally sufficient evidence of causation to submit negligence and negligent entrustment claims to the jury
  2. 2 Whether the trial court erred in denying Giant Eagle’s Civ.R. 50(A)(4) motion for a directed verdict
  3. 3 Whether punitive-damages award must be vacated if underlying compensatory verdict is reversed

Ratio Decidendi

There was insufficient evidence as a matter of law to establish causation for Rieger’s negligence and negligent-entrustment claims; therefore the trial court should have granted Giant Eagle’s Civ.R. 50(A)(4) motion for a directed verdict and judgment is entered for Giant Eagle.

Court Disposition

Judgment of court of appeals reversed; judgment entered in favor of Giant Eagle, Inc.

Orders

  • Reverse judgment of the court of appeals
  • Enter judgment for Giant Eagle, Inc.