JNOV is an acronym for “judgment notwithstanding the verdict,” which is a legal term. It is a rarely invoked doctrine granted by a court that allows for a verdict to be overturned. In other words, it allows a judge to overturn a jury verdict, even though the jury found it in favor of one of the litigants.
How could a JNOV impact your business? If you have a case pending with a jury and they render a verdict in your favor, you may feel as though you have won the case. However, if the court decides to assert a JNOV, the judgment could be overturned and you could lose the case.
Although rarely done, the doctrine of JNOV can have major implications in business law. For example, in the case of Microsoft v. Motorola, the verdict of the jury was overturned, meaning that both parties had to resolve their differences in a different manner.
The takeaway is that even if you prevail in a jury trial, there is still the possibility that the judge may issue a JNOV and overturn the verdict. It is important to understand what can happen and be prepared for the potential impact it can have on your business.