{ "attribution": { "source": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "canonical": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-25-1968-2026-09-18", "cite_as": "NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca8-25-1968-2026-09-18)", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision", "version": "legal-2026-10-10", "fingerprint": "ewai:us:e7268f", "proof": "sha256:49667d5b886bb3513ba1801187fff0e85a20b26a3cc0231c356a51db7072b670", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "publisher": "NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal", "terms": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om" }, "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "item": { "schema_version": "1.0.0", "id": "us:ca8-25-1968-2026-09-18", "jurisdiction": "us", "lang": "en", "brand_source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "brand": { "product": "NovaCopilot", "platform": "ExploreWorldAI", "infrastructure": "ExploreWorld Legal", "infrastructure_url": "legal.exploreworldai.com", "legal_entity": "Valkiv Ventures AB", "permanent_url": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot", "source": "Source: NovaCopilot", "powered_by": "Powered by NovaCopilot", "license": "https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor" }, "sections": [ { "title": "Front matter", "paragraphs": [ "para_1", "para_2", "para_3", "para_4", "para_5", "para_6", "para_7", "para_8", "para_9", "para_10", "para_11", "para_12", "para_13", "para_14", "para_15", "para_16", "para_17", "para_18", "para_19", "para_20", "para_21", "para_22", "para_23", "para_24", "para_25", "para_26", "para_27", "para_28", "para_29", "para_30", "para_31", "para_32", "para_33", "para_34", "para_35", "para_36", "para_37", "para_38", "para_39", "para_40", "para_41", "para_42", "para_43", "para_44", "para_45", "para_46", "para_47", "para_48", "para_49", "para_50", "para_51", "para_52", "para_53", "para_54", "para_55", "para_56", "para_57", "para_58", "para_59", "para_60", "para_61", "para_62", "para_63", "para_64", "para_65", "para_66", "para_67", "para_68", "para_69", "para_70", "para_71", "para_72", "para_73", "para_74", "para_75", "para_76", "para_77", "para_78", "para_79", "para_80", "para_81", "para_82", "para_83", "para_84", "para_85", "para_86", "para_87", "para_88", "para_89", "para_90", "para_91", "para_92", "para_93", "para_94", "para_95", "para_96", "para_97", "para_98", "para_99", "para_100", "para_101", "para_102", "para_103", "para_104", "para_105", "para_106", "para_107", "para_108", "para_109", "para_110", "para_111", "para_112", "para_113", "para_114", "para_115", "para_116", "para_117", "para_118", "para_119", "para_120", "para_121", "para_122", "para_123", "para_124", "para_125", "para_126", "para_127", "para_128", "para_129", "para_130", "para_131", "para_132", "para_133", "para_134", "para_135", "para_136", "para_137", "para_138", "para_139", "para_140", "para_141", "para_142", "para_143", "para_144", "para_145", "para_146", "para_147", "para_148", "para_149", "para_150", "para_151", "para_152", "para_153", "para_154", "para_155", "para_156", "para_157", "para_158", "para_159", "para_160", "para_161", "para_162", "para_163", "para_164", "para_165", "para_166", "para_167", "para_168", "para_169", "para_170", "para_171", "para_172", "para_173", "para_174", "para_175", "para_176", "para_177", "para_178", "para_179", "para_180", "para_181" ], "kind": "front_matter" } ], "paragraphs": [ { "text": "United States Court of Appeals", "paragraph_id": "para_1" }, { "text": "For the Eighth Circuit", "paragraph_id": "para_2" }, { "text": "___________________________", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "No. 25-1968", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "___________________________", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "Morgan Fitch", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellant", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "v.", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "BNSF Railway Company, a Delaware Corporation", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellee", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "____________", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "Appeal from United States District Court", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "for the District of North Dakota - Western", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "____________", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "Submitted: February 12, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "Filed: September 18, 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "____________", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "Before LOKEN, L.R. SMITH, and STRAS, Circuit Judges.", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "____________", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "LOKEN, Circuit Judge.", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "On February 28, 2020, brakeman Morgan Fitch was working as a conductor for", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "Defendant BNSF Railway Company in the cab of the lead locomotive in a train", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "traveling between Minot and Rugby, North Dakota. The train made an undesired", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "emergency stop, throwing Fitch down the cab steps into the nose of the locomotive,", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "causing serious injury. Fitch sued BNSF for damages under the Federal Employers’", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. §§ 51-60, claiming she suffered shoulder injury and mild", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "traumatic brain injury that left her unable to regain meaningful employment.", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "BNSF admitted liability and offered to speak with Fitch about alternative", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "positions that were not as physically demanding as train conductor. She did not", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "respond and the litigation proceeded to a six-day jury trial on damages. At trial, Fitch", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "presented expert testimony to demonstrate her inability to work and evidence to", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "establish that BNSF would not rehire her. She requested the following damages:", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "Past earnings and benefits: $411,811", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "Future medical expenses: $1,038,827", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "Future earnings and benefits: $3,676,248", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "Non-economic damages: $5-10 million", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "Total: $10-15 million", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "BNSF presented evidence to show that Fitch likely had not suffered a head injury, her", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "shoulder injury had healed, and she was medically able to return to work as a train", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "conductor. Its experts criticized Fitch for exaggerating her symptoms to avoid", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "returning to work and opined that she can return to work without restrictions. BNSF", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "urged the jury to award lost earnings for the five years between the injury and trial,", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "but no lost earnings going forward:", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "Past earnings and benefits: $450,000", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "Future medical expenses: $150,000", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "Future earnings and benefits: $0", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "Non-economic damages: $200,000", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "Total: $800,000", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "In closing arguments, Fitch framed the debate about her ability to return to work as", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "an “all-or-nothing” issue. The jury returned a special verdict awarding Fitch reduced", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "non-economic damages and no loss of future earnings and benefits:", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "-2-", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "Past earnings and benefits: $450,000", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "Future medical expenses: $150,000", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "Future earnings and benefits: $0", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "Non-economic damages: $100,000", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "Total: $700,000", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "Fitch moved for a new trial, arguing the finding of no lost future earnings is", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "unsupported by the evidence. The district court1 denied the motion. Declining", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "Fitch’s invitation to substitute its weighing of the evidence for the jury’s, the court", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "concluded there was sufficient evidence to sustain the jury’s verdict because it could", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "reasonably have found Fitch permanently disabled but instead reasonably found that", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "she could return to work. Fitch v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. 21-CV-181, 2025 WL", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "1422717, at *10 (D.N.D. Apr. 23, 2025). Fitch appeals the denial of her motion for", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "a new trial. Reviewing for abuse of discretion, we affirm.", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "Discussion", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "“We review the denial of a motion for a new trial for a clear abuse of", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "discretion, with the key question being whether a new trial is necessary to prevent a", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "miscarriage of justice.” Acad. Bank, N.A. v. AmGuard Ins. Co., 116 F.4th 768, 776", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "(8th Cir. 2024). The motion “should only be granted if the verdict is against the", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "weight of the evidence and allowing it to stand would result in a miscarriage of", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "justice.” Shaw Grp., Inc. v. Marcum, 516 F.3d 1061, 1067 (8th Cir. 2008) (cleaned", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "up). In conducting this review, “we defer first to the jury, as we start with the", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "assumption jurors fulfilled their obligation to decide the case correctly; and we defer", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "second to the trial court, which has a far better sense of what the jury likely was", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "thinking and also whether there is any injustice in allowing the verdict to stand.”", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "Bavlsik v. Gen. Motors, LLC, 870 F.3d 800, 810 (8th Cir. 2017) (cleaned up). Thus,", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "1The Honorable Daniel L. Hovland, United States District Judge for the District", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "of North Dakota.", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "-3-", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "a district court’s denial of a motion for a new trial based on an inadequate damages", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "award “is virtually unassailable” on appeal. White Commc’ns, LLC v. Synergies3", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "Tec Servs., LLC, 4 F.4th 606, 613 (8th Cir. 2021).", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "At trial, Fitch argued she is permanently disabled primarily through the", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "testimony of her medical expert, Dr. Steven Lockman. He testified that Fitch", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "sustained a mild traumatic brain injury in addition to her shoulder injury. Based on", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "these injuries, Dr. Lockman opined, Fitch was rendered permanently unable to obtain", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "gainful employment in a competitive job market:", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "She is unable to reach, lift, bend, crawl, twist, sit for more than 10", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "minutes, stand for more than 10 minutes, or ambulate for more than 10", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "minutes. She is unable to use a computer, be asked to make critical", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "decisions, read documents, or problem solve in a work setting.", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "When asked whether Fitch displayed any signs she was exaggerating her symptoms,", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "he answered no. On cross-examination, BNSF asked Dr. Lockman why his work", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "restrictions said Fitch could not sit for more than ten minutes, yet the jury had", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "watched her sit through trial for days without issue. He responded that work", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "restrictions “are more art than science,” admitted that most of Fitch’s symptoms were", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "self-reported, and admitted he was aware of Fitch performing leisure activities that", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "greatly exceeded his work restrictions, including rigorous 45-minute workouts six", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "days per week, hunting with a crossbow, fishing, and driving ATVs. He conceded", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "that in a prior case, where he testified for a railroad, he said it was almost unheard of", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "for someone not to return to work after a mild traumatic brain injury, explaining, “I", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "don’t think I believed it then, but I did say those words.”", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "Another Fitch medical expert, Nurse Practitioner Brittany Haugtvedt, agreed", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "that Fitch suffered a head injury, was permanently disabled, and was not embellishing", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "her symptoms. She said Fitch could not return to her job as a conductor but could", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "perform light sedentary work. Vocational rehabilitation counselor Jesse Ogren,", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "-4-", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "relying on Dr. Lockman’s medical reports, testified that Fitch would be permanently", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "unable to return to work as a conductor or in any other full-time occupation.", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "Therefore, though she could work part time with accommodations, her lost earnings", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "should be calculated based on total expected earnings from the date of her injury at", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "age 31 until her expected age of retirement at 67. Fitch’s economic expert calculated", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "those expected earnings as the $3.7 million future earnings Fitch requested.", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "BNSF’s trial evidence included expert testimony by Dr. Frederick Strobl, a", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "board-certified neurologist, who testified there was little evidence of a brain injury", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "in Fitch’s medical records in the months following the accident. If she did suffer a", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "traumatic brain injury or concussion, Dr. Strobl opined, it was mild and she could", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "return to work in three months, including as a conductor. BNSF’s neuropsychologist", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "expert, Melissa Castro, agreed Fitch did not sustain a head injury. The outcome of", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "symptom and performance validity testing she conducted resembled someone who", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "was purposefully underperforming or malingering. As to Fitch’s shoulder injury", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "claim, Dr. Timothy Juelson, an orthopedic surgeon who testified as a witness for", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "Fitch by video recorded deposition, testified that when he first saw Fitch at his", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "orthopedic sports surgery clinic in June 2020 she had “a fair amount of discomfort”", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "and pain in her shoulder, that after a shoulder arthroscopy procedure in December", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "2020 her condition improved, that he placed no shoulder use and ability-to-work", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "restrictions in March and last saw her in May 2021, and that his partner expressed", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": "concerns that Fitch was exaggerating her symptoms. Dr. Steven Moen, a retired", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "board-certified orthopedic surgeon testifying for BNSF, agreed with Dr. Juelson and", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "opined that Fitch could return to work in any job without restrictions.", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "The jury considered this expert testimony and obviously determined, to the", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "extent it was conflicting, that BNSF’s witnesses were more credible. “[A] district", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "judge is not free to reweigh the evidence and set aside the jury verdict merely because", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "the jury could have drawn different inferences or conclusions or because judges feel", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "that other results are more reasonable.” Lincoln Composites, Inc. v. Firetrace USA,", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "-5-", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "LLC, 825 F.3d 453, 465 (8th Cir. 2016). The district court did not abuse its", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "discretion in declining to substitute its factfinding for that of the jury.", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "On appeal, Fitch seeks to avoid this battle of experts, arguing that even if the", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "jury found her experts not credible, the fact remains that she lost her BNSF job, so", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "she is entitled to compensation for that loss. But that avoids the relevant question in", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "deciding whether a new trial should be granted in this case. The jury awarded her", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "compensation for that loss, but it was also tasked with calculating the amount of", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "damages caused by BNSF’s negligence. See 45 U.S.C. § 51. BNSF said it did not", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "rehire Fitch because it did not have available work that would meet the restrictions", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "imposed by Dr. Lockman, her treating physician. If the jury found those work", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "restrictions unreasonable, so that Fitch could have returned to work as a conductor,", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "it could also reasonably find that Fitch’s inability to work for BNSF was not caused", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "by her work-related injury while working as a conductor, but was caused by the", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "unreasonable restrictions placed on rehiring her by her treating physician. See Villa", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "v. BNSF Ry. Co., 397 F.3d 1041, 1047 (8th Cir. 2005) (“Juries are capable of finding", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "the facts relevant to causation and of applying in an appropriate manner the liability-", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "limiting principles of law”). Moreover, even if BNSF was unwilling to rehire Fitch,", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "the jury could reasonably find she was able to work at another company, as a", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "conductor or in a similarly lucrative role, justifying its finding of no future earnings", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "loss. Again, we must defer to reasonable jury findings absent a miscarriage of justice.", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "Fitch further urges us to reach the same result here we reached in Bank of Am.,", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "N.A. v. JB Hanna, LLC, 766 F.3d 841, 851 (8th Cir. 2014) -- reverse the district", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "court’s denial of a new trial motion because “the jury simply got the key factual", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "questions wrong and was not entitled to reach the conclusion it reached on the", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "evidence in the record.” JB Hanna involved a complex contractual dispute involving", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "a bank’s claim that borrowers failed to pay the balance due on floating interest rate", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "loans, and borrower counterclaims that the district court dismissed before a jury found", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "for the borrowers on the Bank’s breach of contract claim. The district court denied", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "-6-", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "the Bank’s new trial motion; both parties appealed. We remanded for a new trial on", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "the bank’s breach of contract claim “because the verdict was against the great weight", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "of the evidence . . . judged in accordance with state substantive law”:", "paragraph_id": "para_169" }, { "text": "Indeed, the district court itself, at the conclusion of the evidence,", "paragraph_id": "para_170" }, { "text": "remarked that “had [it] known that the facts were going to be as they", "paragraph_id": "para_171" }, { "text": "ultimately came out at trial, [it] would have granted summary judgment", "paragraph_id": "para_172" }, { "text": "on the [bank’s] case.”", "paragraph_id": "para_173" }, { "text": "The facts and record in this case are far different. Unlike JB Hanna, where we", "paragraph_id": "para_174" }, { "text": "expressly invoked the “manifest miscarriage of justice” exception, here there is", "paragraph_id": "para_175" }, { "text": "abundant evidence supporting the jury verdict. Fitch just disagrees that a reasonable", "paragraph_id": "para_176" }, { "text": "jury could credit BNSF’s experts over hers. 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