2009 California Code of Civil Procedure - Section 624-630 :: Article 3. The Verdict

624.  The verdict of a jury is either general or special. A general
verdict is that by which they pronounce generally upon all or any of
the issues, either in favor of the plaintiff or defendant; a special
verdict is that by which the jury find the facts only, leaving the
judgment to the Court. The special verdict must present the
conclusions of fact as established by the evidence, and not the
evidence to prove them; and those conclusions of fact must be so
presented as that nothing shall remain to the Court but to draw from
them conclusions of law.

625.  In all cases the court may direct the jury to find a special
verdict in writing, upon all, or any of the issues, and in all cases
may instruct them, if they render a general verdict, to find upon
particular questions of fact, to be stated in writing, and may direct
a written finding thereon. In all cases in which the issue of
punitive damages is presented to the jury the court shall direct the
jury to find a special verdict in writing separating punitive damages
from compensatory damages. The special verdict or finding must be
filed with the clerk and entered upon the minutes. Where a special
finding of facts is inconsistent with the general verdict, the former
controls the latter, and the court must give judgment accordingly.

626.  When a verdict is found for the plaintiff in an action for the
recovery of money, or for the cross-complainant when a
cross-complaint for the recovery of money is established, the jury
must also find the amount of the recovery.

[627.]  Section Six Hundred and Twenty-seven. In an action for the
recovery of specific personal property, if the property has not been
delivered to the plaintiff, or the defendant, by his answer, claim a
return thereof, the jury, if their verdict be in favor of the
plaintiff, or, if being in favor of defendant, they also find that he
is entitled to a return thereof, must find the value of the
property, and, if so instructed, the value of specific portions
thereof, and may at the same time assess the damages, if any are
claimed in the complaint or answer, which the prevailing party has
sustained by reason of the taking or detention of such property.

628.  In superior courts upon receipt of a verdict, an entry must be
made in the minutes of the court, specifying the time of trial, the
names of the jurors and witnesses, and setting out the verdict at
length; and where a special verdict is found, either the judgment
rendered thereon, or if the case be reserved for argument or further
consideration, the order thus reserving it.

629.  The court, before the expiration of its power to rule on a
motion for a new trial, either of its own motion, after five days'
notice, or on motion of a party against whom a verdict has been
rendered, shall render judgment in favor of the aggrieved party
notwithstanding the verdict whenever a motion for a directed verdict
for the aggrieved party should have been granted had a previous
motion been made.
   A motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict shall be made
within the period specified by Section 659 of this code in respect of
the filing and serving of notice of intention to move for a new
trial. The making of a motion for judgment notwithstanding the
verdict shall not extend the time within which a party may file and
serve notice of intention to move for a new trial. The court shall
not rule upon the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict
until the expiration of the time within which a motion for a new
trial must be served and filed, and if a motion for a new trial has
been filed with the court by the aggrieved party, the court shall
rule upon both motions at the same time. The power of the court to
rule on a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict shall not
extend beyond the last date upon which it has the power to rule on a
motion for a new trial. If a motion for judgment notwithstanding the
verdict is not determined before such date, the effect shall be a
denial of such motion without further order of the court.
   If the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict be denied
and if a new trial be denied, the appellate court shall, when it
appears that the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict
should have been granted, order judgment to be so entered on appeal
from the judgment or from the order denying the motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict.
   Where a new trial is granted to the party moving for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict, and the motion for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict is denied, the order denying the motion
for judgment notwithstanding the verdict shall nevertheless be
reviewable on appeal from said order by the aggrieved party. If the
court grants the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or
of its own motion directs the entry of judgment notwithstanding the
verdict and likewise grants the motion for a new trial, the order
granting the new trial shall be effective only if, on appeal, the
judgment notwithstanding the verdict is reversed, and the order
granting a new trial is not appealed from or, if appealed from, is
affirmed.

630.  (a) Unless the court specified an earlier time for making a
motion for directed verdict, after all parties have completed the
presentation of all of their evidence in a trial by jury, any party
may, without waiving his or her right to trial by jury in the event
the motion is not granted, move for an order directing entry of a
verdict in its favor.
   (b) If it appears that the evidence presented supports the
granting of the motion as to some, but not all, of the issues
involved in the action, the court shall grant the motion as to those
issues and the action shall proceed on any remaining issues. Despite
the granting of such a motion, no final judgment shall be entered
prior to the termination of the action, but the final judgment, in
addition to any matter determined in the trial, shall reflect the
verdict ordered by the court as determined by the motion for directed
verdict.
   (c) If the motion is granted, unless the court in its order
directing entry of the verdict specifies otherwise, it shall operate
as an adjudication upon the merits.
   (d) In actions which arise out of an injury to a person or
property, when a motion for directed verdict was granted on the basis
that a defendant was without fault, no other defendant during trial,
over plaintiff's objection, shall attempt to attribute fault to or
comment on the absence or involvement of the defendant who was
granted the motion.
   (e) The order of the court granting the motion for directed
verdict is effective without any assent of the jury.
   (f) When the jury for any reason has been discharged without
having rendered a verdict, the court on its own motion or upon motion
of a party, notice of which was given within 10 days after discharge
of the jury, may order judgment to be entered in favor of a party
whenever a motion for directed verdict for that party should have
been granted had a previous motion been made. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 12a, the power of the court to act under the
provisions of this section shall expire 30 days after the day upon
which the jury was discharged, and if judgment has not been ordered
within that time the effect shall be the denial of any motion for
judgment without further order of the court.