Legal Definitions - general verdict

A general verdict is the most common type of decision a jury makes in a trial. When a jury delivers a general verdict, they simply state which party has won the case – for example, finding in favor of the plaintiff (the party bringing the lawsuit) or the defendant (the party being sued) – and, if applicable, the amount of damages awarded. The jury does not provide a detailed explanation of how they reached their decision, nor do they list the specific facts they believed or disbelieved. They present their final conclusion without revealing the underlying reasoning or the individual factual findings that led them to that outcome.

• Example 1: Personal Injury Lawsuit

  Imagine a case where a pedestrian sues a driver for injuries sustained in a crosswalk accident. After hearing all the evidence, including witness testimonies, medical reports, and expert opinions, the jury returns a general verdict stating, "We find for the plaintiff and award $250,000 in damages."

  Explanation: In this scenario, the jury has decided who wins (the pedestrian) and what the financial compensation should be. They do not specify whether they believed the driver was speeding, or if the pedestrian was partially at fault, or which specific medical testimony they found most credible. Their verdict is a straightforward declaration of the outcome.

• Example 2: Breach of Contract Dispute

  Consider a small business that sued a supplier for failing to deliver a crucial component on time, causing significant financial losses. The supplier argued that the delay was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. After deliberations, the jury delivers a general verdict: "We find for the defendant."

  Explanation: Here, the jury concluded that the supplier was not liable for the breach. They did not explain whether they believed the supplier's defense of unforeseen circumstances, or if they found the contract terms ambiguous, or if they thought the small business failed to prove its damages. They simply stated that the defendant won the case.

• Example 3: Property Boundary Dispute

  Two neighbors are in court over the exact location of their shared property line, with one claiming the other's new fence encroaches on their land. Both present surveys and historical deeds. The jury, after reviewing all the evidence, returns a general verdict: "We find for Neighbor A."

  Explanation: The jury's decision indicates that Neighbor A's claim regarding the property line was successful. They did not specify which survey they found more accurate, or which interpretation of the historical deeds they adopted, or if they discounted any witness testimony. Their verdict is a simple declaration of which neighbor prevailed in the dispute.