Case Title: Bolsta v. Johnson

Citation: 176 Vt. 602, 2004 VT 19, 848 A.2d 306

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2004-03-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
Bolsta v. Johnson (2003-004); 176 Vt. 602; 848 A.2d 306

2004 VT 19

[Filed 04-Mar-2004]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                                 2004 VT 19

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 2003-004

                             NOVEMBER TERM, 2003

  Sarah Bolsta	                       }	APPEALED FROM:
                                       }
                                       }
       v.	                       }	Addison Superior Court
                                       }	
  Michael Johnson 	               }
                                       }	DOCKET NO. S 19-1-00 Ancv

                                                Trial Judge: Helen M. Toor

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       ¶  1.  Appellant Sarah Bolsta appeals the trial court's denial of a
  punitive damages award in her personal injury action based upon a motor
  vehicle collision caused by a drunk driver, Michael Johnson.  We agree that
  the actions of the driver do not constitute the kind of malicious,
  intentional acts that punitive damages are designed to address, and
  therefore, we affirm. 

       ¶  2.  The accident occurred in September, 1999.  Johnson failed to
  stop at an intersection controlled by a stop sign, causing a collision with
  appellant's oncoming vehicle.  Appellant's car was totaled, and she
  suffered several injuries, including a broken kneecap and permanent damage
  to her  knee mechanism.  According to witness testimony, immediately after
  the accident  Johnson took beer bottles from his vehicle, and broke them on
  the road.  The officer who conducted the investigation of the accident
  concluded that Johnson was at fault.  Johnson was uninsured.

       ¶  3.  Johnson was processed for driving under the influence of
  alcohol, and was found to have a BAC of 0.156 approximately two hours after
  the accident.  Johnson stated that he had consumed two beers and three
  shots in the hour prior to the accident, and admitted being "slightly"
  under the influence of alcohol.  Johnson had a suspended license -
  resulting from a prior DUI conviction - and three prior convictions for
  driving with a suspended license in Vermont.  He was charged in district
  court with DUI, second offense, and with driving with a suspended license,
  fourth offense.  Johnson entered no contest pleas to both charges. 

       ¶  4.  Appellant commenced a personal injury action against Johnson
  and against appellant's uninsured motorist insurance carrier, Concord
  General Mutual Insurance Co.  In her complaint, she sought both
  compensatory and punitive damages for Johnson's negligence.  Because
  Johnson failed to answer or make an appearance, appellant was granted a
  default judgment.  Appellant and Concord Mutual reached a settlement, and
  the insurance carrier was dismissed from the case.  The  court then
  determined that Johnson owed appellant compensatory damages in the amount
  of $ 131,921.35.  The court rejected appellant's motion for punitive
  damages, finding that the standard articulated in Brueckner v. Norwich
  Univ., 169 Vt. 118,