Vermont Jury Instruction — 6.6.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense is a crucial legal instruction provided to the jury in Vermont during personal injury cases. Comparative negligence is a legal doctrine used to determine the responsibility of each party involved in an accident or injury. This instruction guides the jury on how to consider and apply the concept of comparative negligence when assigning fault and determining compensation. In cases where comparative negligence is raised as a defense, this instruction assists the jury in evaluating the negligence or fault of both the plaintiff and the defendant, and proportionally assigning liability based on their respective contributions to the incident. By considering the actions, omissions, or negligence of all parties involved, the jury can determine the degree of responsibility each party bears for the injuries sustained. The Comparative Negligence Defense instruction emphasizes that the plaintiff's negligence, if any, should not completely bar their recovery but should reduce the damages awarded. It outlines the specific steps the jury should follow while determining the plaintiff's degree of fault: 1. The jury must assess the total negligence attributable to the plaintiff, expressed as a percentage. 2. If the plaintiff's negligence contributed to their injuries or damages, the jury should reduce the compensation awarded to the plaintiff proportionally, corresponding to their degree of fault. 3. The remaining amount of compensation should then be determined for the plaintiff's damages. It is important to note that Vermont follows the doctrine of modified comparative negligence with a 50% rule. This means that if the plaintiff's negligence is determined to be 50% or more, they may be barred from recovering any damages from the defendant. Different variations or types of Vermont Jury Instruction — 6.6.1 GeneraInstructionio— - Comparative Negligence Defense may exist based on the specific circumstances and details of the case. These may include instructions tailored for different types of accidents or legal precedents. Keywords: Vermont, jury instruction, 6.6.1, general instruction, comparative negligence defense, legal doctrine, personal injury cases, fault, responsibility, negligence, proportionally assigning liability, compensation, plaintiff, defendant, damages, modified comparative negligence, 50% rule, legal instruction.