JUDGMENT NOTWITHSTANDING THE VERDICT (JNOV)

This term denotes a judge’s reversal of a jury verdict when the judge believes that the facts alleged in the case by the plaintiff were insufficient to make the case upon which the jury made its verdict or that the jury clearly did not apply the law correctly in order to reach its verdict. This is similar to a directed verdict to which a judge informs a jury that there is only one way which a jury may be able to find. This may also occur when the jury clearly refuses to follow the instructions given by the judge to the jury.