Verdicts in Jury Trials 

Part 2, Title 8, Chapter 4, Article 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure deals with the verdict in trials by jury. 

 Section 624 provides that the verdict of a jury is either general or special. A general verdict is that by which they pronounce generally upon all or any of the issues, either in favor of the plaintiff or defendant, while a special verdict is that by which the jury find the facts only, leaving the judgment to the court. 

 Note that the special verdict must present the conclusions of fact as established by the evidence, and not the evidence to prove them; and those conclusions of fact must be presented as so the Court must draw from them conclusions of law. 

 Section 625 states that, in all cases the court may direct the jury to find a special verdict in writing, upon all, or any of the issues, and in all cases may instruct them, if they render a general verdict, to find upon particular questions of fact, to be stated in writing, and may direct a written finding thereon. 

 In all cases in which the issue of punitive damages is presented to the jury the court must direct the jury to find a special verdict in writing separating punitive damages from compensatory damages. The special verdict or finding must be filed with the clerk and entered upon the minutes.  

 Section 626 states that, when a verdict is found for the plaintiff in an action for the recovery of money, or for the cross-complainant when a cross-complaint for the recovery of money is established, the jury must also find the amount of the recovery. 

 Section 627 provides that, in an action for the recovery of specific personal property, if the property has not been delivered to the plaintiff, or the defendant, by his answer, claim a return, the jury, if their verdict be in favor of the plaintiff, or, if being in favor of defendant, they also find that he is entitled to a return thereof, must find the value of the property, and may at the same time assess the damages, if any are claimed in the complaint or answer, which the prevailing party has sustained by reason of the taking or detention of such property. 

 Section 628 states that, in superior courts upon receipt of a verdict, an entry must be made in the minutes of the court, specifying the time of trial, the names of the jurors and witnesses, and setting out the verdict at length.

Section 629 provides that the court, before the expiration of its power to rule on a motion for a new trial, after five days’ notice, or on motion of a party against whom a verdict has been rendered, renders judgment in favor of the aggrieved party notwithstanding the verdict whenever a motion for a directed verdict for the aggrieved party should have been granted had a previous motion been made. 

A motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict is to be made within the period specified for the filing and service of a notice of intention to move for a new trial. The moving,