THE REQUEST TO POLL THE JURY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DENIED; THE JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE DISCHARGED THE JURY FOREMAN FOR ARGUING WITH ONE OR MORE JURORS WITHOUT INTERVIEWING ALL INVOLVED (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, ordering a new trial in this personal injury action, determined the trial judge should not have denied plaintiff’s request to poll the jury and the jury foreman should not have been discharged for arguing with one or more jurors without interviewing all involved:
It is fundamental error to deny a party’s request to poll the jury … . Defendants’ argument that the issue was not preserved for appeal is unavailing, as plaintiff’s counsel clearly requested that the jury be fully polled … . …
It was also reversible error for the court to discharge the jury foreman, who was alleged to have been in a verbal altercations with another juror during deliberations, without interviewing the jury foreman and the other involved juror or jurors to determine the nature and extent of the disagreement … . That jurors have heated exchanges, does not, without more, form a valid basis for substitution of a juror without the consent of the parties … . Garcia v Rosario, 2021 NY Slip Op 01555, First Dept 3-18-21