After the jury’s verdict, a party may ask the trial court to disregard the jury’s findings and grant a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV). The trial court may grant such a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict if the evidence conclusively establishes the moving party’s right to a judgment different than the jury’s findings.
In Ohio, after a jury delivers its verdict, a party may file a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV), which is also known as a motion for directed verdict. This legal action requests the trial court to set aside the jury's decision and enter a different judgment. The court may grant a JNOV if it finds that, even when viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the non-moving party, there is a complete absence of substantial evidence to support one or more essential elements of the non-moving party's case, or if the evidence overwhelmingly supports the moving party's case. The standard for granting a JNOV is high, as it contradicts the jury's findings, and courts are generally deferential to a jury's verdict. The relevant Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure to look at are Rule 50(A) for the motion for directed verdict and Rule 50(B) for the motion for JNOV.