Summary
holding that appellant waived its challenge to appellee's capacity by failing to raise the matter until the post-trial conference
Summary of this case from Roth v. Islamic Republic of IranOpinion
No. 75-1346.
April 26, 1978.
George Mathews, Baton Rouge, La., for defendants-appellants.
Edward J. Norton, Jr., New Orleans, La., for plaintiff-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
In this diversity action, sounding in tort, appellant contends that appellee was without legal capacity to sue, as provided by F.R.C.P. Rule 17(b), that the evidence did not support the finding of liability, and that the award was excessive. We disagree with appellant and affirm. As held below, at the pre-trial conference, the parties stipulated that capacity existed in the appellee. Additionally, appellant failed to object to lack of capacity until the post-trial conference. Under these circumstances we hold that appellant waived its challenge to the appellee's capacity. Cf. Pace v. General Electric Co., 55 F.R.D. 215 (D.C.Pa. 1972). (Court permitted waiver of Rule 17(a) objection to real party in interest unless jurisdiction was impaired.) Additionally, we are convinced the proper tort law was applied and that the determination of negligence was not clearly erroneous. F.R.C.P. Rule 52(a), 28 U.S.C.A. Finally, we are not persuaded that the amount of the award was so excessive as to be unreasonable. Machado v. States-Isthmian Agency, Inc., 411 F.2d 584, 586 (5th Cir. 1969). We therefore
AFFIRM.