Cal. Civ. Code § 534.320
Verdict may be corrected in matters of form
Operative Text
No verdict shall be set aside for informality, but the judge may in the presence of the jury, correct the same in matters of form, changing no matter of substance.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 534.320 addresses how courts handle technical imperfections in jury verdicts in landlord-tenant proceedings. Under this provision, a verdict cannot be thrown out simply because it contains a minor formal defect or irregularity. Instead, the presiding judge is permitted to correct such informalities on the spot, in the jury's presence, as long as no substantive element of the verdict is altered.
Plain English — not legal advice.
For property owners and managers involved in unlawful detainer or eviction proceedings governed by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.320, a favorable jury verdict is not automatically lost due to minor wording or formatting issues. Courts are empowered to fix technical defects in the verdict form without disturbing the underlying outcome. Operators familiar with this rule understand that procedural technicalities in verdict language are generally curable at the trial level.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.320 means that if a jury returns a verdict in a housing case with a minor technical flaw, that flaw alone is not grounds to have the verdict set aside. Tenants should be aware that a judge may correct such formalities in open court while the jury is still present, provided the substance of the verdict remains unchanged. Those with questions about how verdict corrections might affect their case can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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