Nails v. S & R, INC.

ELDRIDGE, Judge. We issued a writ of certiorari in this civil case to review the holding by the Court of Special Appeals that, when the jury returns a verdict, when the jury is polled, and when the parties and counsel are told that they are excused, the verdict is final and the court has no authority to submit an additional issue to the jury or request further deliberations on a matter even though the jury has remained in the box. An additional issue presented concerns the element of reliance in a fraud action. I. Allison Nails and Robert Bolton were employees of S & R, Inc., trading as VOB Auto Sales (the dealership).

They served as Assistant Service Managers (ASMs), and as such, were each the leader of a team of four or five mechanics. Nails was hired as an ASM in 1983 and, except for the period between April and September 1984, served in that position until 1987. Nails was originally hired on a commission basis. Bolton was first hired as an ASM in 1984, and he served as an ASM until July 1987.

Bolton was initially paid a flat salary, but he testified at the trial in the instant case that, when he was hired, he was told that his compensation would be changed to a commission system sometime in the future. ⁴⁰¹ His compensation was changed to a commission basis in February 1985. Nails and Bolton testified that the commission system was explained to them as follows: they were to be paid 5% of the gross dollar value of parts sold and services rendered by their respective teams, calculated on the basis of receipts instead of sales. Commissions were calculated on the basis of receipts so that an ASM would not receive a commission on a job until the dealership was paid; if the dealership never received its money, neither did the ASM. Unknown to the ASMs, the dealership deducted 15% from the gross receipts before paying the 5% commission.

The ASMs periodically noticed discrepancies between what they thought they should be paid and what they were actually paid. On several occasions, they asked management personnel to explain the perceived discrepancies. Management generally responded that there were outstanding bills, for which commissions were not yet due, and which the ASMs could not properly track. They were not told of the dealership’s practice of deducting 15% from the gross receipts.

The ASMs contend that they first learned of the specific commission practice at a meeting with a new general manager of the dealership in 1987. Another ASM, similarly concerned about discrepancies between his anticipated commissions and his actual commissions, asked why his figures were wrong. The general manager responded that the ASM was failing to deduct 15% from the gross. This comment was apparently met with great surprise by all of the ASMs at the meeting, as this was the first time any of them had heard of this practice.

Nails and Bolton separately filed in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County complaints alleging breach of contract and fraud. The cases were consolidated and tried before a jury. The dealership moved for a directed verdict at the close of the plaintiffs’ case, and, after it was denied, renewed the motion at the close of all the evidence. Each time the dealership argued that the plaintiffs had not proven all of the elements of fraud because they failed to prove reliance on the ⁴⁰² misrepresentation. 1 The dealership also argued that, even if the plaintiffs had established fraud, they were not entitled to punitive damages because they had failed to prove that the dealership acted with actual or implied malice. 2 The trial court reserved ruling on the defendant’s motion for a directed verdict made at the close of the evidence, and the court proceeded to instruct the jury.

After giving the instructions, the court sent the jury to deliberate, providing the jury with two special verdict sheets, one for each plaintiff, containing eighteen questions per sheet. The verdict sheets were virtually identical to those proposed by the dealership. In addition to questions concerning each element of the contract and fraud counts, the verdict sheets included the following three questions bearing on the issue of punitive damages: (1) “Did the fraud arise out of a contractual relationship?” (2) “[D]o you find that defendant acted with actual malice?” and (3) “Do you find that defendant acted with implied malice?” The special verdict sheets did not include a question concerning whether the fraud induced the plaintiffs to enter into their employment contracts. The plaintiffs’ attorneys noticed the omission and, before the jury had been provided with the ⁴⁰³ verdict sheets, brought it to the attention of the court.

The plaintiffs’ counsel explained to the court why the omission was significant, arguing that the omission effectively foreclosed part of their case. The court responded: “Right or wrong, I am not changing this. It is going in like it is. You can object to it all you want.

I am sorry. To me, it doesn’t make a bit of difference. If they come up with an award of punitive damages and answer no implied malice and no actual malice, you are not getting punitive damages, even if they award them.” The defense attorney was silent throughout this exchange. The court gave the jury the verdict sheets as planned.

After deliberating at length, the jurors announced that they had reached their verdicts and returned to the box. The foreperson handed the verdict sheets to the clerk, who read them aloud. The jury answered the questions identically for both plaintiffs. It found, in answer to the questions on the special verdict sheets, that the defendant had knowingly misrepresented a past or present fact, with intent to defraud the plaintiffs.

It further found that the plaintiffs justifiably relied on the defendant’s misrepresentation and suffered damages as a result. The jury awarded Nails compensatory damages of $11,394.52 and awarded Bolton compensatory damages of $7,686.73. The jury found for the plaintiffs on their contract claims as well, awarding damages in the same amounts. As to the punitive damages questions, the jury found that the fraud arose out of a contractual relationship.

In response to the question whether the defendants acted with actual malice, the jury said “no.” In answer to the question whether the defendants acted with implied malice, however, the jury answered “yes.” With respect to the final part of the verdict sheets under the tort counts, the jury awarded punitive damages in the amounts of $100,000.00 for Nails and $100,000.00 for Bolton. , After the clerk read the verdict sheets aloud, the clerk then asked: “Ladies and gentlemen, your verdict as it will be recorded, is that the verdict of all twelve of you ladies and gentlemen?” The jurors responded affirmatively. The court ⁴⁰⁴ then said: “Madame Clerk, will you please file the verdict sheets. Counsel and the parties, I will excuse you.” The plaintiffs’ attorney immediately asked if counsel could approach the bench. The jury remained in the box.

During the ensuing bench conference, the plaintiffs’ counsel said that the verdicts rendered were exactly the reason why he had believed that it was necessary to include an additional question on fraud inducing the contract. The court replied, “I see what you are saying.” The plaintiffs’ counsel then proposed to submit a supplemental verdict sheet, asking whether the fraud induced each plaintiff to enter into his or her employment contract. The plaintiffs’ lawyer pointed out that the court had instructed the jury that it could award punitive damages if it found that the fraud arose out of the contract and the defendants acted with actual malice, or if the fraud induced the plaintiffs to enter into the contract and the defendants acted with implied malice. Therefore, the plaintiffs’ attorney contended, the verdict as returned was an implicit finding that the fraud had induced the contract; submitting an additional question would clarify that implicit finding.

Defense counsel objected to the jury being asked to return to the jury room to deliberate on the additional question. The court decided to have the jury answer a supplemental verdict sheet. The jury found that both plaintiffs had been induced by fraud to enter into their employment contracts with the dealership. The court then excused the jury.

The dealership moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial on all counts. At the hearing on this motion, the dealership argued that, because Bolton began his employment with the dealership on a salary basis, he could not have been induced to accept employment with the dealership by the misrepresentation as to its commission policy. Therefore, the dealership argued, any misrepresentation could not have induced Bolton to enter the contract but “arose out of the contract” within the meaning of H & R Block, Inc. v. Tester-man, 275 Md. 36, 44-46 , 338 A.2d 48, 53 (1975), and Wedeman v. City Chevrolet Co., 278 Md. 524, 528-530 , 366 A.2d 7, 10-11 (1976). Consequently, the dealership contended, the jury’s ⁴⁰⁵ finding that the dealership had not acted with actual malice precluded Bolton from receiving punitive damages.

The court agreed, holding that, as a matter of law, Bolton had to prove actual malice in order to recover punitive damages, and the court granted the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict with respect to Bolton’s punitive damages claim. The court denied the motion for new trial, and denied the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict with respect to Nails. The dealership took an appeal to the Court of Special Appeals, arguing, inter alia, that the circuit court erred in submitting the supplemental question to the jury. Bolton cross-appealed, contending that the circuit court erred in granting the dealership’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict as to his punitive damages claim.

In a reported opinion, S & R v. Nails, 85 Md.App. 570 , 584 A.2d 722 (1991), the Court of Special Appeals reversed the judgments and remanded the case to the circuit court for a new trial. The intermediate appellate court took the position that it was improper for the circuit court to have submitted the supplemental verdict sheet to the jury. The Court of Special Appeals set forth its holding as follows ( 85 Md.App. at 585 , 584 A.2d at 729 ): “We hold, therefore, that where a jury, which had been properly instructed, returns an apparent verdict, which is taken, the jury is polled, and the parties and counsel are excused, that verdict is final, there being nothing further for the jury to do; at that point, submitting additional issues or requiring further deliberation is no longer an option open to the court.” The intermediate appellate court further held that the ultimate punitive damages verdicts were ambiguous and inconsistent. The court was of the view that, even if it were appropriate to submit the supplemental verdict sheets to the jury, the supplemental verdicts did not resolve any ambiguities in the initial verdict sheets but, instead, created an inconsistency.

The Court of Special Appeals set out and indicated agreement ⁴⁰⁶ with the following argument by the dealership ( 85 Md.App. at 589-590 , 584 A.2d at 731 ): “ ‘Under the jury’s findings that the fraud arose out of a contract and that there was no actual malice, a judgment for the defendant was mandated. Under the answer to the supplemental question, that the fraud induced the contract, coupled with the finding of implied malice, a judgment for each plaintiff was required. The two answers cannot be harmonized, are hopelessly inconsistent, and the trial judge erred in not granting a new trial based on the inconsistency.’ ” The appellate court concluded that a new trial should be ordered. The Court of Special Appeals, however, discussed some of the remaining issues for the guidance of the trial court on remand, stating ( 85 Md.App. at 592 , 584 A.2d at 732 ): “We perceive no error in the court’s submission of the punitive damages issue to the jury.

As we see it, the totality of the circumstances was such as to provide an adequate basis upon which a jury could find malice. Furthermore, notwithstanding [the dealership’s] arguments to the contrary, we are satisfied that the essential elements of fraud were sufficiently proven to have required submission of the issue to the jury. We think it important, however, to address the reliance element separately.” With respect to the “reliance element” of a fraud action, the appellate court went on to state that the “but for” test was required and that the plaintiffs’ evidence was sufficient to meet the test. They had each testified that, although they did not know whether they would have taken the job if they had been told the truth about the commission system, the amount of money they would make was important to them.

The Court of Special Appeals said that a permissible inference from this and other testimony was that the plaintiffs acted because of the misrepresentation, thus meeting the “but for” requirement. The intermediate appellate court suggested that the “uncertainty expressed in response to a question calling upon ⁴⁰⁷ the witness to speculate about what he or she would have done is not the equivalent of stating that he or she did not rely on the representation.” 85 Md.App. at 594 , 584 A.2d at 733-734 (emphasis in original). The plaintiffs petitioned this Court for a writ of certiorari, arguing that it was permissible for the circuit court to submit the supplemental interrogatory to the jury, that the jury’s ultimate verdicts were clear, that there was ample evidence for the jury to conclude that the misrepresentations at the time the plaintiffs were hired constituted fraud in the inducement and that such fraud induced each plaintiff to enter the contracts. The plaintiffs sought reinstatement of the jury verdicts, including the punitive damages determinations, as to both Nails and Bolton.

The dealership also petitioned for a writ of certiorari, arguing that, in light of the “clear and convincing” standard of proof, there was insufficient evidence of “the reliance element of a fraud claim” to have submitted the fraud count to the jury, particularly when a “plaintiff is unsure of whether he would have acted differently ‘but for’ the ... misrepresentation.” We granted both petitions. 3 ⁴⁰⁸ II. A. This Court has consistently indicated that, in civil cases, a trial judge has the authority to have a jury deliberate further and amend its verdict as long as the jury has not been discharged and left the court room. Thus, in Gaither v. Wilmer, 71 Md. 361 , 18 A. 590 (1889), the jury returned an obviously incomplete verdict which purported to “find for the plaintiff’ without specifying any amount of damages. Before the jurors had left the court room, the judge asked the attorneys if they would agree to allow the verdict to be completed, but, just as in the instant case, the defendant’s attorney refused.

The judge then had the clerk hearken and record the verdict, and dismissed the jurors, who then left the jury box. Almost a week later, the judge “amended” the verdict by inserting an amount of damages, and rendered judgment on this “amended” verdict. Although this Court reversed because the trial court should not have inserted an amount “several days after the jury had separated,” 71 Md. at 364 , 18 A. at 591 , the Court continued as follows ( 71 Md. at 364-365 , 18 A. at 591 , emphasis added): “The defect was discovered by the Judge when the verdict was handed to him before it was recorded, and when the jury were in attendance in open court for the purpose of rendering their verdict. It was then competent for the jury to reject this verdict in toto, and find another, or to vary, or correct it.

The Judge, also, could then have sent them to their room, with instructions to correct this defect, whether ⁴⁰⁹ counsel assented or not; and this was the course that should have been adopted. Edelen v. Thompson, 2 H. & G. 31 .” In Ager v. Baltimore Transit Co., 213 Md. 414, 418 , 132 A.2d 469, 471 (1957), the jury deliberated for a lengthy period, returned to the jury box, announced that it was hung, and the trial judge stated: “ ‘I do discharge you from further consideration of the case.’ ” Before any jurors left the jury box, however, the trial judge changed his mind, decided that the jurors should deliberate further, and sent them to the jury room. In upholding the trial judge’s action, this Court stated ( 213 Md. at 419 , 132 A. at 472): “It was held in the case of Koontz v. Hammond, 62 Pa. 177 , that, although the jury had been ordered discharged, they could still render a verdict as they had not separated or left the court room and their discharge had not been recorded. We think this was a proper ruling.

It would seem a vain and futile holding to require the parties to undergo another lengthy trial, with its consequent expense and consumption of time, under the circumstances stated above.” See Williams v. New York, 153 Md. 102, 107 , 137 A. 506, 508 (1927) (holding that it was error for a trial court to reconvene a jury to clarify its verdict after the jury was dismissed, the jurors had left the courtroom, and some of the jurors had left the courthouse); Harris v. Hipsley, 122 Md. 418, 425 , 89 A. 852, 854 (1914) (“ordinarily the jury should not be permitted to amend [its] verdict after it has been recorded and the jury dismissed”). See also, e.g., Traylor v. Grafton, 273 Md. 649, 680 , 332 A.2d 651, 670 (1975); Bronstein v. American Ice Co., 119 Md. 132, 138 , 86 A. 131, 133 (1912). Cf. Hoffert v. State, 319 Md. 377, 390-391 , 572 A.2d 536, 543 (1990) (Chasanow, J., dissenting, and pointing out that a reason for ordinarily drawing the line at whether the jurors had dispersed is to guard against them having been subject to outside influence). 4 ⁴¹⁰ In holding that the jury’s initial verdicts in this case became absolutely final when announced, when the jury was polled, and when counsel were told that they were excused, the Court of Special Appeals relied on Hoffert v. State, supra, 319 Md. 377 , 572 A.2d 536 .

The Hoffert case, however, does not support the holding of the Court of Special Appeals in the case at bar. Hoffert was a criminal case, in which the defendant was charged with (1) attempted murder in the first degree, (2) attempted murder in the second degree, (3) robbery with a deadly weapon, and (4) use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence. The “crime of violence,” which was an essential element of the handgun charge, was the attempted murder or the robbery which were charged in the first three counts. The jurors were instructed, properly, that in order to convict Hoffert on the handgun charge, they must find that he was guilty of attempted murder in the first degree, or attempted murder in the second degree, or robbery with a deadly weapon, as charged in one of the first three counts.

The jury returned from its deliberations and was asked for its verdicts. The foreman announced a verdict of not guilty on each of the first three counts and said nothing about the fourth count. The clerk then polled each juror to determine if these verdicts were unanimous, and the poll disclosed that they were. The clerk hearkened the jury to the first charge.

The judge then addressed the jurors and told them: “Members of the jury, having received your verdicts here today your service in this case is now complete.” 319 Md. at 381, 386 , 572 A.2d at 538, 540 . A juror interrupted the judge, calling ⁴¹¹ attention to the fourth charge. At that point, the judge asked the foreman about the handgun charge, and the foreman indicated a guilty verdict on that charge. A bench conference ensued, at which the prosecutor argued that a verdict on the handgun charge should be taken even if it would be inconsistent with the not guilty verdicts on the first three charges and even if it would violate the court’s jury instructions.

The judge gave counsel some time to research the matter and sent the jurors back to the jury room. After the recess, the jury was returned to the box, and a verdict was requested on the handgun charge. The foreman announced that the verdict on the handgun charge was “guilty,” and a poll of the jurors disclosed that the guilty verdict was unanimous. We held in Hoffert that the trial judge erred in having the jury render a verdict on the handgun charge after it had initially rendered its not guilty verdicts.

A majority of this Court, in an opinion by Judge Orth, explained ( 319 Md. at 386 , 572 A.2d at 540-541 ): “[The trial judge] was encouraged to travel the primrose path by the prosecutor. What both the judge and the prosecutor overlooked was the effect of the not guilty verdicts on the viability of the trial. “When the jury was polled on the verdicts of not guilty