When a verdict shall be found for the plaintiff in an action for the recovery of money only, the jury shall also assess the amount of recovery; so, also, if they find for the defendant in case of a counterclaim, crossclaim or other demand for money. A verdict shall meet the requirements of this rule if the jury returns a finding of the total amount of the damages and assesses percentages of fault. When exemplary or punitive damages are allowed by the jury, the amount thereof shall be separately stated in the verdict. When both damages for personal injuries and damages to property are allowed by the jury, the verdict shall state separately the amount allowed for the aggregate of the items of damage connected with the personal injury and the amount allowed for the aggregate of the items of damage connected with the injury to the property.
Rule 71.06.Jury Shall Assess Amount of Recovery, When.
Part I · Rule 71: Verdicts · Last amended July 1, 1987 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 71.06 requires the jury, when it finds for the plaintiff in a money-only case or for a defendant on a counterclaim, cross-claim, or other money demand, to also assess the amount of recovery, to state punitive damages separately, and to separate personal-injury damages from property damages.
Full Text of Rule 71.06
Amendment History
Amended Oct. 16, 1986, eff. July 1, 1987.
Official Comment
This Rule is Section 111 of the 1943 Code ( Section 510.270, RSMo 1959) with a new sentence added and provision made for counter-claims and cross-claims instead of “offsets.” This new sentence provides that the damages for personal injury and property damage be stated separately in the verdict. This will be of great help in cases involving subrogation rights and in tax computations. Compare: Rule 49, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 71.06 pairs liability with a dollar figure. When a jury finds for the plaintiff in an action seeking only money, it must also assess the amount of recovery — the same goes for a defendant who prevails on a counterclaim, cross-claim, or other demand for money. A verdict that finds the total amount of damages and assesses percentages of fault satisfies this requirement.
The rule adds two separation requirements that make a verdict easier to use afterward. Exemplary or punitive damages, when the jury allows them, must be stated separately in the verdict instead of being folded into a single damages figure. And when a jury allows both personal-injury damages and property damages, the verdict must state the aggregate amount for each category separately.
Keeping personal-injury and property-damage amounts distinct matters beyond the courtroom — it helps with things like subrogation claims and tax computations, where the source of a damages award can carry different consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the jury decide both liability and the dollar amount in a money-damages case?
Yes, when the jury finds for the plaintiff in an action for recovery of money only, it must also assess the amount of recovery.
Must punitive damages be stated separately in the verdict?
Yes, when the jury allows exemplary or punitive damages, the amount must be separately stated in the verdict.
Does this rule apply to counterclaims and cross-claims?
Yes, it applies when the jury finds for a defendant on a counterclaim, cross-claim, or other demand for money.
Why does the rule require separating personal-injury and property damages?
Stating these aggregates separately assists with matters like subrogation rights and tax computations that depend on the source of the damages.
Does a comparative-fault verdict satisfy this rule's requirement to assess the amount of recovery?
Yes, a verdict meets the rule's requirements if the jury returns a finding of total damages and assesses percentages of fault.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: jury assessing damagespunitive damages stated separatelyseparating personal injury and property damage verdictassessing amount of recovery