OPINION
delivered the opinion of the court,
Patron of adult book store and theater sued the theater corporation and one employee for injuries sustained in an assault by defendant emplоyee and other employees. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant employee but against the corporation and assessed damages accordingly. The corporation appeals, asserting that the verdict is inconsistent and a new trial should be granted. We affirm, because the complaint alleges and the proof indicates that employees other than the defendant employee engaged in the assault.
This appeal involves a suit for personal injuries resulting from an alleged assault. Defendant-appellant, The 822 Corporation (hereinafter Corporation), appeals thе judgment on the jury verdict awarding plaintiff-appellee, Hayes Washington (hereinafter Washington), $7,500.00 damages. The jury also returned a verdict for defendant, Ronnie Telford. 1
On December 23, 1994, Washington vis
On December 21,1995, plaintiff filed suit against Corporation and Ronnie Telford. Plaintiffs amended complaint alleges that while plaintiff was visiting Corporation’s place of business, he was assaulted by defendant Telford and other employeеs of the corporation, all acting within the course and scope of their employment. The complaint also alleges that Telford, acting within the сourse and scope of his employment, was guilty of malicious prosecution for swearing out a criminal warrant against him. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff against Corporation for $7,500 .00 damages, and also returned a verdict in favor of defendant Telford. Corporation’s motion for a new trial was denied, and Corрoration has appealed. Corporation presents two issues for review, as stated in its brief:
1. Whether the inconsistency of the jury verdicts, including findings of no liability on the part of the employee who was alleged to have assaulted the Plaintiff and of liability on the part of the employer for such assault, requires thаt a new trial be granted.
2. Whether the trial court in its capacity as thirteenth juror failed to properly weigh the evidence without deference being shown to the result reached by the jury.
Where, as here, a trial judge has approved a jury’s verdict, our standard of review is whether there is any material evidence tо support the verdict. Tenn. RApp.P. 13(d). Thus, absent a reversible error of law, we will set aside a judgment on a jury verdict only where the record contains no materiаl evidence to support the verdict.
Foster v. Bue,
In its first issue, the corporation asserts that Washington’s claim was based on the doctrine of respondeat superior and that neither the complaint or amended complaint included a claim for negligent hiring or supervision of its employees. Corporation further submits that the proof presented аt trial does not present a basis for any claim other than respondeat superior and argues that the jury verdict should be overturned based on the inconsistent result. Washington argues that the issues of negligent training and negligent supervision of the employees were tried by express or implied consent of the parties and therefore should be treated as if raised in the pleadings. 3
The problem with Washington’s argument is that the trial court did not instruct the jury on negligent training or negligent supervision. The trial court should instruct the jury upоn every issue of fact and theory of the case raised by the pleadings and supported by the proof.
Street v. Calvert,
Since Washington did not request and the jury was not charged with negligent supervision or hiring we must аssume that the verdict was based on
re-spondeat superior.
Under the doctrine of
respondeat superior,
an employer is held vicariously liable for torts committed by its employees within the course and scope of their employment.
Tennessee Farmers Mut. Ins. Co. v. American Mut. Liab. Ins. Co.,
Corporation asserts that the jury rendered inconsistent verdicts by holding Corporation liable but declining to hold Telford liable. If, in fact, there are inconsistent verdicts, neither the verdict in favor of the employee nor the verdict against the employer can stand.
See McCall v. Owens,
Corporation’s second issue asserts that thе trial court did not perform its duty as the thirteenth juror. As we previously noted, the standard of review is limited to a determination of whether there is any material evidence to support a jury verdict. This standard is not applicable unless the trial judge properly fulfills his duty as “a thirteenth juror.” In
Shivers v. Ramsey,
In this state the trial judge is the thirteenth juror and no verdiсt is valid until approved by the trial judge. Mize v. Skeen,63 Tenn.App. 37 ,468 S.W.2d 733 (1971). In this capacity the trial judge is under a duty to independently weigh the evidence and determine whether the evidence prеponderates in favor of or against the verdict. McLaughlin v. Broyles,36 Tenn.App. 391 ,255 S.W.2d 1020 (1952); Tiffany v. Shipley,25 Tenn.App. 539 ,161 S.W.2d 373 (1941).
If in discharging his duty as thirteenth juror, the trial judge makes comments that indicate that he has misconceived his duty or clеarly has not followed it, this court must reverse and remand the case for a new trial [the material evidence rule notwithstanding]. See Nashville, C. & St. L.R. R. v. Neely,102 Tenn. 700 ,52 S.W. 167 , 168 (Tenn.1899); Holden v. Rannick,682 S.W.2d 903 (Tenn.1984).
Corporation asserts on appeal that the trial court’s language in the order denying the motion for a new trial indicates that the court misconstrued its duty and approved the verdict for some reason other than its own satisfaction with the verdict based upon an independent evaluation of the evidence. The language re
Accordingly, the judgment of the triаl court is affirmed. This case is remanded to the trial court for such further proceedings as may be necessary. Costs of the appeal are assessеd against the appellant, The 822 Corporation.
Notes
. Plaintiff-appellee has not appealed as to this defendant.
. The parties stipulated that The 822 corporation owns the Metro News Adult book Store where Ronnie Tеlford was an employee.
. Washington’s brief presents this theory as issues but because of our decision we preter-mit a detailed examination thereof.