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WPI 45.01 General Verdict Forms—Single Plaintiff and Defendant

6 WAPRAC WPI 45.01Washington Practice Series TMWashington Pattern Jury Instructions--Civil

6 Wash. Prac., Wash. Pattern Jury Instr. Civ. WPI 45.01 (7th ed.)

Washington Practice Series TM

Washington Pattern Jury Instructions--Civil

April 2022 Update

Washington State Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions

Part V. Multiple Parties and Pleadings—Forms of Verdicts

Chapter 45. Forms of Verdicts

A. Simple Verdict Forms

WPI 45.01 General Verdict Forms—Single Plaintiff and Defendant

Verdict Form A

IN THE [SUPERIOR] [DISTRICT] COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR COUNTY


,
	Plaintiff,	No.

vs.		VERDICT
,		FORM A
	Defendant.

We, the jury, find for the plaintiff in the sum of $ .

DATE:
	Presiding Juror

Verdict Form B

IN THE [SUPERIOR] [DISTRICT] COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON FOR COUNTY


,
	Plaintiff,	No.

vs.		VERDICT
,		FORM B
	Defendant.

We, the jury, find for the defendant.

DATE:
	Presiding Juror

NOTE ON USE

These verdict forms apply generally to civil actions for damages.

For cases governed by the Tort Reform Act, these forms may be used as alternatives to WPI 45.20 (General Verdict Forms—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Single Defendant—No Contributory Negligence—No “Empty Chairs”—Separate Damage Elements) or WPI 45.21 (Special Verdict Form—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Single Defendant—No Contributory Negligence—“Empty Chairs).” See the Note on Use to WPI 45.20 (General Verdict Forms—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Single Defendant—No Contributory Negligence—No “Empty Chairs”—Separate Damage Elements).

Use these Verdict Forms A and B for any injury or damage case with one plaintiff and one defendant when there is no issue of contributory negligence. Use these verdict forms with WPI 1.08 (Concluding Instruction—For General Verdict Form), WPI 1.09 (Use of General Verdict Forms for Single Plaintiff and Defendant), and WPI 21.02 (Burden of Proof on the Issues—No Affirmative Defense). In a directed verdict or admitted liability case, use this Verdict Form A. See WPI 1.08 (Concluding Instruction—For General Verdict Form) and its Note on Use for the appropriate concluding instruction.

If separate elements of damages are needed, see WPI 45.20 (General Verdict Forms—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Single Defendant—No Contributory Negligence—No “Empty Chairs”—Separate Damage Elements) and the corresponding Comment.

COMMENT

The WPI Committee is of the opinion that the better practice is not to use this instruction when there is contributory negligence. Verdict forms WPI 45.02 (Special Verdict Form—Contributory Negligence—Single Defendant), WPI 45.22 (Special Verdict Form—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Single Defendant—Contributory Negligence—No “Empty Chairs”), WPI 45.23 (Special Verdict Form—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Single Defendant—Contributory Negligence—“Empty Chairs”), WPI 45.26 (Special Verdict Form—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Multiple Defendants—Contributory Negligence—No “Empty Chairs”), and WPI 45.27 (Special Verdict Form—Personal Injury/Wrongful Death—Multiple Defendants—Contributory Negligence—“Empty Chairs”) are specifically drafted for use when there is contributory negligence.

[Current as of September 2018.]

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