This is an appeal in a personal injury suit on the grounds of jury misconduct and a conflict in the jury’s answers to special issues.
In the early morning of July 24, 1974, on a highway about four miles south of Palestine, a van collided with a Continental Trailways bus. Edwin M. Massengale, the driver of the van, was employed by the Robert L. Lewis Delivery Service making bulk delivery of newspapers. Ernest E. Yaggi was the bus driver, on a Houston-to-Texarkana route. Massengale was killed and Yaggi injured (primarily a broken knee) in the accident.
Yaggi and his wife brought suit against the A. H. Belo Corporation; The Dallas Morning News (an unincorporated subsidiary of Belo); Massengale’s estate; Pauline Massengale (decedent’s widow), individually and as community survivor, representative of the estate, and heir; and Julie Massen-gale (daughter of decedent), individually and as heir. Apparently Robert L. Lewis, individually and d/b/a Robert L. Lewis Delivery Service and Robert L. Lewis Transportation Company, was later added as a defendant. Yaggi alleged various acts of negligence by Massengale and damages totaling $40,000.
The Massengale defendants filed a cross-action against Yaggi and added Continental as a third-party defendant, alleging various acts of negligence by Yaggi and claiming damages totaling $404,558.75. Continental filed its cross-action against all of the defendants, alleging damages to its bus, including loss of use, in the amount of $24,-786.35. All of the defendants’ answers alleged contributory negligence on the part of Yaggi.
All of the defendants entered pleas of privilege but only those of Belo and The Dallas Morning News were sustained. The cause as to them was severed and transferred to Dallas County.
Hartford Insurance Company intervened to recoup workmen’s compensation benefits ($8,748.27) paid to Yaggi. Texas Employers Insurance Association intervened to recoup benefits ($9,131.00) paid for Massengale’s death.
Following a stipulation by the defendants that any negligence on the part of Massen-gale was to be imputed to the Robert L. Lewis Delivery Service, Yaggi and Continental took a nonsuit in their actions against the Massengale defendants.
Trial was had before a jury which found Massengale negligent in failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to apply his brakes, and changing lanes when it was unsafe to do so. With regard to Yaggi, the jury found: he did not fail to keep a proper lookout; he did not fail to apply his brakes; he did fail to avoid the collision but this was not negligence; he did drive in excess of 55 mph but this was not negligence; he did not drive in the left lane; he did drive after consuming alcoholic beverages (apparently he had had two beers) but this was not negligence. It was further found that the percentage of negligence attributable to Massengale was 70% and to Yaggi, 30%. Yaggi’s damages were found to be $12,175 and the Massengales’, $76,100.
The trial court entered judgment for Continental and Yaggi, jointly and severally, against Lewis for $12,175.00; for Continental against Lewis for $15,211.35 (amount stipulated as damages to the bus); that the Massengales and Texas Employers take nothing; and for Julie Massengale’s guardian ad litem against Lewis for $1,500 in attorney’s fees. An amended motion for new trial, which asserted jury misconduct as well as attacking the findings of the jury, was overruled.
The Massengales, Lewis, and Texas Employers appeal, bringing five points of error. The first four concern alleged jury miscon *490 duct. The jury foreman allegedly was told, by another venireman, during voir dire, that Mrs. Massengale had refused a settlement offer of $70,000. The foreman then allegedly failed to reveal this when asked if he knew anything about the case, and informed at least one other juror of this during deliberations. The information allegedly was ultimately received by several jurors. Further, statements were said to have been made in the jury room that Mrs. Massengale would probably remarry and would not need the money she had prayed for, and that any recovery she might receive would be divided between her attorneys. Point one eomplains of error by the trial court in overruling the motion for new trial because the jury was probably caused to return its verdict due to the aforementioned alleged acts of misconduct. Point two asserts error in overruling the motion because the foreman failed to reveal that he had received information about the case before being sworn in as a juror. The third point states that any implied finding that the misconduct did not occur at a time when it could be harmful is against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. Point four complains of error in failing to sustain the motion because the cumulative effect of the alleged misconduct probably caused the rendition of an improper verdict. Appellees reply that it was disputed as to who among the jurors heard the settlement offer statement, when it was made, and whether there was any adverse effect on appellants; appellees also claim the statements concerning remarriage and attorney’s fees had no effect on the deliberations, and that the foreman’s receiving information regarding the settlement offer did not affect his decision and did not harm appellants. It is further argued by appel-lees that it must be presumed, in the absence of express findings, that the trial court found all controverted facts in favor of appellees in overruling the motion for new trial.
It will be helpful at this point to detail the testimony given before the trial court at the hearing on appellant’s motion for new trial. Four of the twelve jurors testified. The first to testify was Mrs. Elizabeth Beard, who was called by appellants. She testified that after the jury had gone to the jury room for their deliberations, Olan Campbell was elected foreman; that before any deliberations had commenced the foreman made a statement that Mrs. Massen-gale had been offered $70,000 and had refused it; that that statement was made before any questions had been answered, and that it was made only one time; and that the statement was made loud enough so that any person with ordinary hearing capabilities could have heard it. Mrs. Beard further testified that shortly thereafter the jury stood ten-to-two in favor of the bus company and that later those two voted with the other ten so that the verdict returned to the trial judge was unanimous. Mrs. Beard’s testimony continued to the effect that a lady juror said that the money (apparently referring to any recovery by Mrs. Massengale) would be divided between Luther Johnston and Boone Fields (two of Mrs. Massengale’s attorneys), and that the same lady said that Mrs. Massengale would probably marry again and “She wouldn’t need the money all that much.” On cross-examination, Mrs. Beard reiterated that Campbell’s statement concerning the settlement offer had been made before the jury began considering the special issues. She also testified that it was she and one other male juror who voted initially to place the liability on Yaggi and the bus company; that it appeared to her that the ten jurors wanted to put all the blame on Massengale throughout the course of the deliberations and that she and the other man “just decided to go” with the majority.
The second witness called by appellants was Mrs. Melinda Bridges. She testified that the foreman, during the deliberations, “said that she [Mrs. Massengale] had been offered a settlement which that is what we all figured she had been done [sic]”; that she did not recall how much money was offered (after refreshing her memory from her affidavit, she stated that the amount was $70,000). On cross-examination Mrs. Bridges testified that the first thing that *491 was done during the deliberations wets the election of the foreman and that the next thing that happened was that the foreman read the charge aloud and that as he came to the questions the jury voted on them; that there had been no discussion prior to the foreman’s reading of the charge; that in response to the first question the jurors voted ten to two that Massengale was at fault and that up to that point she didn’t believe there had been any discussion about the settlement offer; that she didn’t know when the statement concerning the settlement offer had been made, but she stated, “I will say it wasn’t at the beginning. I don’t feel like it was, it was an innocent statement anyway.” She later testified again that she didn’t know when the statement was made, but that some of the special issues (she could not recall how many) had been voted on and answered when the statement was made. In response to the question, “After this statement was made, at whatever point it was made, did any change any of those questions that had already been answered? [sic]” she answered, “No.” On redirect examination, Mrs. Bridges again testified that Campbell’s statement was not made at the beginning of the deliberations, and on recross-examination she testified that no one changed his vote after the statement was made. Then, on redirect examination, she stated that two jurors did change their votes at some time during the day.
Appellees’ first witness was Durwood Pearson, who testified that the election of the foreman was the first thing done during the deliberations and that then the jury looked at the pictures again and the foreman read the questions and the jury answered them. He could not recall any statement being made about a settlement offer by the bus company. Pearson also testified that at no time were there more than two people who voted that the accident was not the fault of Massengale; that the jury took a recess for lunch and completed their deliberations twenty or thirty minutes after the lunch recess; and that some questions near the end of the charge remained to be answered after lunch. On cross-examination, Pearson answered that during the voir dire of the jury panel, he did not hear Campbell say to any of the attorneys that he (Campbell) had heard of the case or knew anything about the case; and that he could not remember when the first issue was answered.
Finally, Oían D. Campbell, the foreman of the jury, was called by appellees and testified that there was no discussion before he began reading the charge; that as he read - through the charge the jury would answer each question; that “When we got to the money, they said let’s come back to it,” and that all the previous questions had been answered at that time. Campbell’s testimony continued that no one with Continental gave him any outside information concerning any settlement negotiations; that he heard about the settlement offer from a member of the jury panel sitting next to him during the voir dire examination; that “when we got to the money,” Mrs. Neiland, a juror, asked, “How are we going to decide to pay anybody any money when we decide they are not guilty?” and that then he whispered in Mrs. Neiland’s ear that the bus company had offered a settlement; that “She was free to tell anybody else. But I did not tell the rest of them. She did.” In response to questions on cross-examination, Campbell testified that during the voir dire examination he did not indicate that he knew anything about the case; that he got the statement concerning the settlement offer, before the questioning, from another member of the jury panel who was later excused. In answer to the question, “Why did you not divulge to the Court and to the lawyers you had heard that?” Campbell answered, “Because he didn’t convince me of nothing. That’s hearsay.” Campbell further testified that he made a statement in the jury room that “I had heard that the bus company had offered a settlement of seventy-five thousand dollars”; that he did not make the statement that Mrs. Massengale had turned down the offered settlement; that only Mrs. Neiland had heard his statement; that Mrs. Neiland repeated the statement (he *492 thought she was speaking to Mrs. Bridges) but that most of the other jurors did not hear it. Campbell also testified that something was said in the jury room concerning whether Mrs. Massengale would marry again, but that “That’s just a bunch of bunk”; that he did not know when that was said or who said it. With regard to a statement that there was no use giving Mrs. Massengale any money because her attorneys would get most of it, Campbell could not recall its being made.
Rule 327, T.R.C.P., provides in pertinent part:
“Where the ground of the motion [for new trial] is misconduct of the jury . ., or that a juror gave an erroneous or incorrect answer on voir dire examination, the court shall hear evidence thereof from the jury or others in open court, and may grant a new trial if such misconduct proved ... or the erroneous or incorrect answer on voir dire examination, be material, and if it reasonably appears from the evidence both on the hearing of the motion and the trial of the case and from the record as a whole that injury probably resulted to the complaining party.”
Thus, a party seeking a new trial because of alleged jury misconduct has the burden of establishing to the satisfaction of the court that the misconduct occurred, that it was material, and from the evidence on the hearing of the motion for new trial and the trial of the cause and from the record as a whole, that it was calculated to and probably did result in harm.
Fountain v. Ferguson,
We shall first address foreman Campbell’s failure to divulge on the voir dire examination that he had heard of the purported settlement offer by Continental to Mrs. Massengale. Appellants have not brought to this court as part of the record on appeal a statement of facts of the voir dire examination of the jury panel; thus, we are unable to determine precisely what question or questions pertinent to this matter were put to the panel. Campbell testified that he heard of the purported settlement offer from another member of the jury panel prior to the questioning. On cross-examination he was asked,
“Q You recall my asking and the other lawyers too, asking the jury panel whether they knew anything about the facts, don’t you, or words to that effect?
“A Well, facts . . .
“Q Or what purported to be the facts.
“A Yeah.
“Q And you did not indicate, did you, that you knew anything about the case on that morning?
“A Right.
“Q Why did you not divulge to the Court and to the lawyers you had heard that?
“A Because he didn’t convince me of nothing. That’s hearsay.”
Article 2134, V.T.C.S., provides, “Any person who has a bias or prejudice in favor of or against either of the parties” shall be disqualified to serve as a juror in a particular case. The trial court, by overruling the motion for new trial, impliedly found that prejudice did not exist and that the juror was not disqualified.
The Swap Shop v. Fortune,
Appellants argue that a juror who has received any information about a case prior to the trial thereof is necessarily biased or prejudiced thereby. We do not agree that this is the correct rule. The burden is on the party claiming that a member of the jury failed to reveal his bias or prejudice on voir dire examination to show that such failure to affirmatively answer general questions probably resulted in injury to said party. Rule 327, T.R.C.P.;
Tudor v. Tudor,
Appellants cite
Dallas Railway & Terminal Co. v. Kurth,
“We are governed by Childers v. Texas Employers’ Insurance Association,154 Tex. 88 ,273 S.W.2d 587 , 588, departing from the contrasting rule announced in Texas Employers' Ins. Ass'n v. Wade, Tex.Civ.App.,197 S.W.2d 203 ; Traders & General Ins. Co. v. Cossman, Tex.Civ.App.,212 S.W.2d 865 ; and Dallas Ry. & Terminal Co. v. Kurth, Tex.Civ.App.,247 S.W.2d 930 , and holding that under Rules 327, 434 and 503, T.R.C.P., ‘The failure of the juror on his voir dire examination to disclose information that he had suffered previous injuries is not the test . . ., unless the evidence shows that he concealed the fact of previous injury . ., and that such action resulted in probable injury. . .' (Emphasis supplied.)”
See
Houston Belt & Terminal Railway v. Burmester,
In the instant case, we are of the opinion that appellants have failed to meet their burden of showing either that prejudice existed or that they were harmed in any way by Campbell’s failure to disclose his knowledge of the purported settlement offer. On the basis of the record before us, we find no abuse of discretion by the trial court in impliedly finding that prejudice did not exist and that the juror Campbell was not disqualified. Appellants’ point of error two is overruled.
We now turn to the allegations of jury misconduct concerning Campbell’s repeating the statement about a settlement offer in the jury room during the deliberations. It is the general rule that the question of whether an overt act of misconduct occurred in the jury room is a question of fact, but the question of whether the misconduct resulted in injury to the complaining party or affected the verdict of the jury is a question of law.
City of San Antonio v. McKenzie Construction Co.,
Once it has been determined that an act of misconduct has occurred, the inquiry turns to the question of materiality and probable injury. There is a difference between condemning an act as misconduct and determining that such misconduct destroys the verdict. 3 McDonald, Texas Civil Practice sec. 14.09 at p. 559 (1970) (hereinafter cited as “McDonald”); Minor v. Gross, supra. Misconduct is material only when it is reasonably calculated to prejudice the rights of the complainant. Here again the trial judge is best equipped to judge the potentialities of prejudice from misconduct and his decision is to be given great weight, but this is a question of law, and as such, is freely reviewable. 3 McDonald sec. 14.16.3 at pp. 579-80.
The point in time during jury deliberations at which misconduct occurs is an important factor in determining the probability of injury.
Fountain
v.
Ferguson,
supra at 508. Improper jury conduct which occurs after the jury has answered the issues which might have been affected thereby is not reasonably calculated to affect the verdict and is not reversible error.
Norman v. First Bank & Trust, Bryan,
In passing on questions of fact as to which there is conflicting testimony, at the hearing on a motion for new trial based upon alleged jury misconduct, the trial court has the same latitude in determining the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony as the jury had-on the trial of the original cause.
Monkey Grip Rubber Co. v. Walton,
We must presume that the trial court resolved this issue in support of its implied ruling that no harm resulted from the statement, and we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in so doing and that it did not do so against the great weight and overwhelming preponderance of the evidence. There is sufficient evidence to support the implied finding by the court below that the statement by Campbell concerning a settlement offer was made at a time during the deliberations when it could not have harmed appellants. Point of error three is overruled.
Even if we be in error in this, however, there are sufficient other bases on which to uphold the action of the trial court. Specifically, in determining whether improper conduct was material and probably caused injury, we may consider such matters as the nature of the conduct, the significance of the conduct, the presence or absence of a rebuff, whether the statements were asserted as fact or opinion, the time the misconduct occurred, whether there was a change in vote after the misconduct, and the duration of the deliberations.
Reese v. Brittian,
The remark concerning Mrs. Massengale’s probable remarriage and resultingly- lessened requirement for money and the remark concerning the dividing of any recovery between two of her lawyers were said by Mrs. Beard to have been made by an unnamed woman juror, apparently after the jury’s lunch recess. Campbell at first denied that the statement about remarriage was made, then later testified that he had heard it but could not recall when it was made; he did not recall the statement concerning attorney’s fees. Mrs. Bridges and Pearson were not questioned concerning either remark. With regard to the alleged statement about attorney’s fees, a fact question as to its occurrence was presented which the trial court impliedly resolved against its having been made.
United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Turner,
Most importantly on the question of harm, there was no evidence tending to show that the verdict was tainted by the statements. Rule 292, T.R.C.P., provides, “A verdict may be rendered in any cause by the concurrence, as to each and all answers made, of the same ten members of an original jury of twelve . . . .” It is evident from the testimony of all four jurors that at no time did more than two jurors vote to place the liability upon Yaggi, that the ten jurors who voted to place the liability upon Massengale did not change their votes on liability issues throughout the deliberations, and that the two only voted with the ten at the end of the deliberations. Thus, appellants have shown neither materiality of any misconduct, nor harm therefrom.
Tees v. Tees,
supra at 916. While jurors cannot receive evidence outside the record, it must be shown that others were probably influenced by the remark before reversal is required.
Mrs. Baird’s Bread Co. v. Hearn,
supra;
State Highway Dept. v. Pinner,
We are aware that a number of instances of misconduct during jury deliberations, though harmless if taken separately, may, in combination, call for a reversal.
Sproles Motor Freight Lines, Inc. v. Long,
*497
In determining whether alleged jury misconduct was material and resulted in probable injury, both the trial and reviewing courts must examine the record as a whole, i. e., any and all parts of the record which may throw light on the question of injury, including the evidence heard during the main trial as well as that adduced at the hearing on the motion for new trial. Rule 327, supra;
Fountain v. Ferguson,
supra at 508;
Willrodt v. Union City Transfer,
Having carefully reviewed the several cases cited by appellants for their contention that the statements here caused them harm, we are of the opinion that they are not relevant here. In each, we find either support for appellees’ position in this appeal or instances of misconduct glaringly more serious than those with which we are concerned here.
Weighing all of the factors bearing on the existence of harm, we are of the opinion that it is not probable that the acts of misconduct alleged here, taken singly or in combination, affected the verdict or caused any injury to appellants. Appellants’ points of error one and four are overruled.
In their final point of error, appellants contend that the trial court erred in entering judgment on the verdict because of an alleged conflict in the jury’s answers to the special issues. As noted previously, the jury found three instances of negligence on the part of Massengale and exonerated Yaggi of actionable negligence. Then special issue 16 was answered as follows:
“What percentage of the negligence that caused the occurrence do you find from a preponderance of the evidence to be attributable to each of the parties found by you to have been negligent ?
“The percentage of negligence attributable to a party is not necessarily measured by the number of acts or omissions found.
“Answer by stating the percentage, if any, opposite each name.
“Edwin M. Massengale *70’_%
“Ernest E. Yaggi ‘30’_%”
[Emphasis added.]
The test to be applied in a situation where there are conflicting answers in a verdict is, whether taking the finding alone in the one instance, a judgment should be entered in favor of the plaintiff; and taking it alone in the other, judgment should be entered in favor of the defendant. In applying this test, we must consider each answer claimed to be in conflict, disregarding the other conflicting answer but considering the rest of the verdict, and if so considered, one of the answers would require judgment in favor of the plaintiff and
*498
the other would require judgment in favor of the defendant, then the answers are fatally in conflict. Thus, the party seeking to set aside a verdict on the ground of conflicting answers has the burden of showing that one of the conflicting answers, plus the rest of the verdict (disregarding the other conflicting answer), requires entry of a judgment different from that entered.
Little Rock Furniture Mfg. Co. v. Dunn,
A second basis for the same conclusion is that the specific finding concerning liability controls over the general finding of comparative negligence.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. v. Hartman,
Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.