Rule 71.02. Jury Shall Render General Verdict – When

In every issue for the recovery of money only, or specific real or personal property, the jury shall render a general verdict.

Committee Note – 1959

This Rule is the same as Section 107 of the 1943 Code (Section 510.230, RSMo 1959).

This rule is the same as original proposed Rule 22.02 (a) . Paragraph (b) of the proposed Rule 22.02 provided for a discretionary special verdict in the form of special findings on each issue of fact, and for submission to a jury of special interrogatories. Paragraph (b) is omitted for these reasons:

(1) it is a radical change in the existing practice;

(2) experience with similar provisions has not been uniformly satisfactory;

(3) the Bar overwhelmingly opposed the discretionary special verdict system in all cases.