MORGAN v. LUJAN LLC (2019)

ORDER DISMISSING APPEAL

This is an appeal from a jury verdict and an order denying a motion for entry of judgment. Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County; Elizabeth Goff Gonzalez, Judge.

Appellant sued respondents for personal injuries. Prior to trial, a verdict form was prepared that inadvertently omitted respondent Harvest Management Sub, LLC, from the form, thereby preventing the jury from specifying its determination as to Harvest's vicarious or respondeat superior liability. Neither the parties nor the district court noticed the omission. The jury awarded appellant damages, but no disposition resolves the claims against Harvest. Accordingly, as the parties concur, there is no final judgment at this point. See Lee v. GNLV Corp., 116 Nev. 424, 426, 996 P.2d 416, 417 (2000) (defining a final judgment as “one that disposes of all the issues presented in the case, and leaves nothing to the district court's consideration except postjudgment issues such as attorney fees and costs”). Appellant attempted to resolve the matter by filing a motion for entry of judgment against Harvest, but the district court declined on the ground that the factual record was insufficient for it to make a ruling. Appellant appeals.

Harvest has filed a motion to dismiss this appeal as premature and to direct the district court to enter judgment in favor of Harvest. Appellant opposes the motion and has filed a renewed counter-motion for a limited remand pursuant to Huneycutt v. Huneycutt, 94 Nev. 79, 575 P.2d 585 (1978) and NRAP 12A to enable the district court to rule on the motion for entry of judgment. This court lacks jurisdiction because the judgment is not final. Jurisdiction remains vested in the district court to take whatever steps it needs to reach a final judgment. Appellant may appeal from a final judgment. The motion to dismiss is granted and this court

ORDERS this appeal DISMISSED.¹

FOOTNOTES

1.   Harvest's request that this court direct the district court to enter judgment in its favor is denied.