ARTIS v. South Carolina Department of Corrections; Bryan P. Stirling; Gregory Knowlin, individually and in their official capacities, Defendants. (2018)

Robert Artis appeals the jury verdict entered in favor of Michelle Williamson on Artis’ excessive force claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012). On appeal, Artis contends that the jury’s verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence, and he disputes the admission of various testimony and evidence admitted at trial. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

Artis neglected to file a Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) motion for judgment as a matter of law after entry of the jury’s verdict. “Absent such a motion, ․ [we are] powerless to review the sufficiency of the evidence after trial.” Ortiz v. Jordan, 562 U.S. 180, 189, 131 S.Ct. 884, 178 L.Ed.2d 703 (2011) (internal quotation marks omitted). Consequently, Artis has forfeited his challenge to the jury’s verdict. See Belk, Inc. v. Meyer Corp., 679 F.3d 146, 154-60 (4th Cir. 2012) (explaining that postverdict motion challenging sufficiency of evidence supporting jury’s verdict is necessary to preserve issue for appeal).

Artis likewise failed to preserve all but one of his arguments concerning the admission of certain evidence at trial. See Padilla v. Troxell, 850 F.3d 168, 178 (4th Cir. 2017) (providing appellate review of evidentiary issue is forfeited if issue not raised before trial court). With respect to Artis’ preserved claim that the district court erred in permitting prior act evidence under Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(2), we discern no abuse of discretion. Smith v. Balt. City Police Dep’t, 840 F.3d 193, 200 (4th Cir. 2016) (stating standard of review).

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.