B45.03. Instruction on Use of Verdict Forms-Negligence Only-Single Plaintiff and Multiple Defendants

B45.03 Instruction on Use of Verdict Forms--Negligence Only--Single Plaintiff and Multiple Defendants When you retire to the jury room you will first select a foreperson. He or she will preside during your deliberations. Your verdict[s] must be unanimous. Forms of verdicts are supplied with these instructions. After you have reached your verdict[s], fill in and sign the appropriate form[s] and return [it] [them] to the court. Your verdict[s] must be signed by each of you. You should not write or mark upon this or any of the other instructions given to you by the court. The parties in this case are: Plaintiff: [name of plaintiff] Defendant[s]: [names of defendants] If you find for the plaintiff and against any of the defendants and if you further find that plaintiff was not contributorily negligent, then you should use Verdict Form A, writing in "0%" on Line "(a)" of Paragraph "Second" of Verdict Form A. If you find for [name of plaintiff] and against one or more of the defendants, and if you further find that [name of plaintiff]'s injury was proximately caused by a combination of the negligence of that defendant or defendants and [name of plaintiff]'s contributory negligence, and that [name of plaintiff]'s contributory negligence was 50% or less of the total proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought, then you should use Verdict Form A, writing in the percentage of the plaintiff's contributory negligence on Line "(a)" of Paragraph "Second" of Verdict Form A. If you find in favor of all defendants or that [name of plaintiff]'s contributory negligence was more than 50% of the total proximate cause of the injury or damage for which recovery is sought, then you should use Verdict Form B.