Verdict Expected Soon In Garth Brooks' Yukon Hospital Lawsuit

The jury in the Garth Brooks' lawsuit against Integris Hospital in Yukon has finished deliberating and a verdict is expected soon.

Both sides delivered their closing arguments Tuesday afternoon as the trial in the Rogers County Courthouse enters its next phase.

Brooks is suing to get his $500,000 donation back from Integris.  He claims Integris promised to name a building after his late mother. The hospital said it never made that promise and there were no conditions placed on the money.

Jurors will be given four verdict forms and asked to decide if there has been a breach of contract and if fraud was used to get a contract. They can find that one, both or neither occurred.

Integris argues that there was never a contract and no intent to defraud Brooks.  It says it always intended to honor Brooks' mother in some way but had never agreed on how it would be done.

Brooks' attorneys say the fraud used to get a contract occurred when Integris offered to name a women's center for his mother.

If there is no finding of fraud, the case will be over. If jurors do find that the hospital was fraudulent in obtaining a contract with Brooks, they will then be asked to decide on any punitive damages.

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In breach of contract cases, jurors are instructed to judge by a "preponderance of the evidence" rather than "beyond a reasonable doubt" as in criminal cases. For fraud, the standard is "by clear and convincing evidence."

Monday afternoon the judge denied a motion by Integris to dismiss Brooks' lawsuit. 

Integris asked for the dismissal after Brooks finished testifying. 

Brooks said he was glad to tell the jury his side of the story and he is trying to not let this experience make him cynical, adding he doesn't want the people in Yukon to confuse his feelings for Integris and for them.

1/23/2012 Related Story: Judge Denies Motion To Dismiss Garth Brooks' Yukon Hospital Lawsuit

In Garth Brooks' hometown of Yukon, folks seem to side heavily with the country music superstar.

1/23/2012 Related Story: Oklahomans Respond To Garth Brooks' Lawsuit Against Hospital

Follow News On 6 Lori Fullbright's Twitter feed from the Rogers County Courthouse.