CACI VF-2005 Public Nuisance

California Civil Jury Instructions CACI

VF-2005 Public Nuisance


We answer the questions submitted to us as follows:

1.Did [name of defendant], by acting or failing to act, create a condition that was harmful to health?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 1 is yes, then answer question 2. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

2.Did the condition affect a substantial number of people at the same time?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 2 is yes, then answer question 3. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

3.Would an ordinary person have been reasonably annoyed or disturbed by the condition?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 3 is yes, then answer question 4. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

4.Did the seriousness of the harm outweigh the social utility of [name of defendant]’s conduct?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 4 is yes, then answer question 5. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

5.Did [name of plaintiff] consent to [name of defendant]’s conduct?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 5 is no, then answer question 6. If you answered yes, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

6.Did [name of plaintiff] suffer harm that was different from the type of harm suffered by the general public?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 6 is yes, then answer question 7. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

7.Was [name of defendant]’s conduct a substantial factor in causing [name of plaintiff]’s harm?

 Yes   No

If your answer to question 7 is yes, then answer question 8. If you answered no, stop here, answer no further questions, and have the presiding juror sign and date this form.

8.What are [name of plaintiff]’s damages?

[a.Past economic loss

[lost earnings $]

[lost profits $]

[medical expenses $]

[other past economic loss $]

Total Past Economic Damages: $]

[b.Future economic loss

[lost earnings $]

[lost profits $]

[medical expenses $]

[other future economic loss$]

Total Future Economic Damages: $]

[c.Past noneconomic loss, including [physical
pain/mental suffering:] $]

[d.Future noneconomic loss, including [physical
pain/mental suffering:] $]

TOTAL $

Signed:Presiding Juror
Dated:  

After [this verdict form has/all verdict forms have] been signed, notify the [clerk/bailiff/court attendant] that you are ready to present your verdict in the courtroom.


New September 2003; Revised April 2007, December 2007, December 2010, December 2016


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Directions for Use

This form is based on CACI No. 2020, Public Nuisance—Essential Factual Elements.

The special verdict forms in this section are intended only as models. They may need to be modified depending on the facts of the case.

Other factual situations may be substituted in question 1 as in element 1 of CACI No. 2020.

If specificity is not required, users do not have to itemize all the damages listed in question 8 and do not have to categorize “economic” and “noneconomic” damages, especially if it is not a Proposition 51 case. The breakdown of damages is optional depending on the circumstances.

If there are multiple causes of action, users may wish to combine the individual forms into one form. If different damages are recoverable on different causes of action, replace the damages tables in all of the verdict forms with CACI No. VF-3920, Damages on Multiple Legal Theories.

Depending on the facts of the case, question 1 can be modified, as in element 1 of CACI No. 2020.

If the jury is being given the discretion under Civil Code section 3288 to award prejudgment interest (see Bullis v. Security Pac. Nat’l Bank (1978) 21 Cal.3d 801, 814 [148 Cal.Rptr. 22, 582 P.2d 109]), give CACI No. 3935, Prejudgment Interest. This verdict form may need to be augmented for the jury to make any factual findings that are required in order to calculate the amount of prejudgment interest.