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Ferguson v. Jackson
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT Reporter of Decisions
Decision: 1997 ME 235
Docket: Ken-97-161
Submitted on Briefs: December 4, 1997
Decided: December 30, 1997
Panel:WATHEN, C.J., and ROBERTS, CLIFFORD, RUDMAN, DANA, LIPEZ, and
SAUFLEY, JJ.
DONNA FERGUSON
v.
ARLEN JACKSON,
d/b/a A & J Motors
ROBERTS, J.
[¶1] Arlen Jackson, d/b/a A & J Motors, appeals from the judgment
of the Superior Court (Kennebec County, Alexander, J.) dismissing his
appeal from the judgment entered in a small claims action in the District
Court (Augusta, MacMichael, J.) in favor of Donna Ferguson for $2,845.12
plus $35 costs. Jackson contends that the court incorrectly interpreted his
failure to pay the jury fee as a withdrawal of the request for a jury trial and
that the court should have given him an opportunity to argue legal issues.
We affirm the judgment.
[¶2] Ferguson presented her claim for allegedly defective repairs to
her 1989 GMC Jimmy in the small claims action. In August 1996 the court
entered a judgment against Jackson for $2,845.12 plus $35 costs. After the
court filed findings of fact, Jackson appealed and filed the affidavit required
by M.R. Small Claims P. 11(d)(2) in support of his request for a jury trial. On
review of the affidavit, the Superior Court found the case in order for trial,
directed the clerk to place it on the jury trial list on payment of the $300
jury fee, and ordered the parties to file a report of conference of counsel
form within 10 days.
[¶3] The parties separately complied within 10 days, but Jackson
failed to pay the $300 fee. The clerk set the case for nonjury trial for
February 4 to 27, 1997. The record reflects that the case was called for trial
on February 18, and on review of the file, the court dismissed the appeal.
The court treated the failure to pay the jury fee as a withdrawal of the
request for a jury trial. Pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 80L(c)(4), on such a
withdrawal "the appeal shall be dismissed or proceed on a material question
of law."{1} Jackson, however, had not raised a question of law, nor had he
filed a transcript of the small claims hearing. The rules protect Jackson's
right to a jury trial, but do not provide for a second nonjury trial. As a result,
the rules require that the appeal be dismissed.
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
For plaintiff:
Donna Ferguson
P O Box 2883
Augusta, ME 04330
Attorney for defendant:
Brian P. Winchester, Esq.
116 State Street
Augusta, ME 04330
FOOTNOTES******************************** {1}. M.R. Civ. P. 80L(c)(4) provides:
(4) Jury Trial. An action placed upon a jury trial list shall be tried by
jury. If the defendant withdraws the demand for jury trial in a writing
filed with the clerk before the date on which the jury is to be empanelled,
or if the court upon its own initiative at any time finds that no right
to trial by jury of any issue exists under the Constitution or statutes
of the State of Maine, the appeal shall be dismissed or proceed on a material
question of law, as provided in paragraph (3) of this subdivision.
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