The Jury ChargeThe Jury Charge

TRCP 271-279, 285-289TRCP 271-279, 285-289

The PurposeThe Purpose

• The charge is the collection of questions, The charge is the collection of questions, definitions, and instructions the court definitions, and instructions the court submits to the jury to resolve the factual submits to the jury to resolve the factual disputes in the case.disputes in the case.

• It is the trial court’s responsibility to It is the trial court’s responsibility to submit a proper charge. submit a proper charge.

ReferencesReferences

• 1. 1. O’Connor’s Texas FormsO’Connor’s Texas Forms * * Civil TrialsCivil Trials, , 81.81.

• 2. 2. Texas Pattern Jury ChargesTexas Pattern Jury Charges (State Bar of (State Bar of Texas).Texas).

• 3. 3. Court’s Charge ReporterCourt’s Charge Reporter (Butterworth (Butterworth 1995).1995).

• 4. Barber, 4. Barber, Texas Court Charges-Negligence Texas Court Charges-Negligence ActionsActions (Butterworth 1993). (Butterworth 1993).

• 5. Robins, 5. Robins, Texas SpecialTexas Special Issues FormsIssues Forms (Butterworth 2d ed. 1995).(Butterworth 2d ed. 1995).

Texas Pattern Jury ChargeTexas Pattern Jury Charge

• Authoritative, but not always correct.Authoritative, but not always correct.• SeeSee State v. WilliamsState v. Williams, 940 S.W.2d 583, , 940 S.W.2d 583,

584 (Tex. 1996). (erroneous premises 584 (Tex. 1996). (erroneous premises liability charge).liability charge).

• When a case is submitted on an When a case is submitted on an erroneous charge from the PJC, the erroneous charge from the PJC, the appellate court should reverse and appellate court should reverse and remand, not render. remand, not render. City of San Antonio City of San Antonio v. Rodriguezv. Rodriguez, 931 S.W.2d 535, 536 , 931 S.W.2d 535, 536 (Tex.1996).(Tex.1996).

Preparing a DraftPreparing a Draft

• 1. Each party should prepare a 1. Each party should prepare a complete version of the charge-including complete version of the charge-including its opponent’s jury questions, its opponent’s jury questions, instructions, and definitions –before instructions, and definitions –before engaging in discovery.engaging in discovery.

• 2. Review and revise just before trial.2. Review and revise just before trial.• 3. Review and revise after the 3. Review and revise after the

introduction of evidence and before the introduction of evidence and before the informal charge conference.informal charge conference.

More StuffMore Stuff

• Broad Form Questions ???Broad Form Questions ???

• Proper Tender of RequestProper Tender of Request– Examine live pleadings and the Examine live pleadings and the

evidence before preparing the draft evidence before preparing the draft chargecharge

• Cluster of related requestsCluster of related requests• Proper Burden of persuasionProper Burden of persuasion• Proper ConditionProper Condition• Proper Damage QuestionsProper Damage Questions

– Proper measureProper measure– Proper SegregationProper Segregation– Proper TieProper Tie– Alternative theories of damageAlternative theories of damage

Informal Charge Informal Charge ConferenceConference

• Deadline for requestsDeadline for requests• The proposed chargeThe proposed charge• Time to examineTime to examine

The Formal Charge The Formal Charge ConferenceConference

• Make a recordMake a record• Challenging the chargeChallenging the charge

– When to objectWhen to object– When to request –omission in the When to request –omission in the

chargecharge• Court omits a questionCourt omits a question• Court omits any party’s definition of Court omits any party’s definition of

instructioninstruction

When to object or requestWhen to object or request

• Court omits opponent’s questionCourt omits opponent’s question• Court places erroneous burden of Court places erroneous burden of

persuasionpersuasion• Short-hand rule to challenge the Short-hand rule to challenge the

chargecharge

Deadline to object & Deadline to object & requestrequest

• The chargeThe charge• Supplemental instructionsSupplemental instructions• Presumption of timelinessPresumption of timeliness

Making the formal request Making the formal request for additionsfor additions