Juries issue verdicts in most civil cases.
Civil courts render a variety of different verdicts. Judges issue some of the verdicts, while juries announce other kinds of verdicts. The definition of a verdict depends on the type of verdict involved.
Standard Verdict
Law.com defines a verdict as "the decision of a jury after a trial, which must be accepted by the trial judge to be final." This is the definition of a standard verdict issued in civil court.
Directed Verdict
Trial judges, not juries, issue directed verdicts. A judge would direct a verdict against a party with the burden of proof if that party closed its case and stopped presenting evidence without meeting its burden. For example, if a prosecutor closed her case against a defendant before proving all the elements of the charges, the judge would direct a verdict against the state.
Special Verdict
Juries, not judges, issue special verdicts. The definition of a special verdict, according to Thefreedictionary.com, is "a verdict rendered on certain specific factual issues posed by the court without finding for one party or the other."
Parties request special verdicts when a core factual issue is so contested that it makes settlement impossible. The jury would answer only the factual question, which might allow the parties to settle the case. This approach can save money for both sides by "cutting to the chase" on the main point of contention.
Judgment Not Withstanding Verdict
A judge issues a judgment not withstanding verdict when the judge determines that the jury verdict is not supported by fact or law. Judges prefer not to direct verdicts and they rely on juries to reject bad cases, as such results are more likely to hold up on appeal. However, sometimes juries award money damages on bad cases, leaving the judge to decide whether to overrule the jury's verdict.
Compromise Verdict
Compromise verdicts occur when jurors split the difference in how they value the case. For example, some jurors may value a case at $20,000 while others value the case at $50,000. A compromise verdict would occur if the jurors decided to award $35,000 even though none of them actually valued the case at that amount.
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