Opinion ID: 1926607
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Deferred Compensation Claims

Text: Aurora asserts that the trial court should have set aside the awards to Bykofsky for 1978 and post  1978 deferred compensation and interest. Aurora contends that the trial court erred in directing a verdict for Bykofsky as to whether he was entitled to the principal relating to the 1978 deferred compensation benefits because the statute of limitations barred the 1978 claim, and that Bykofsky was not entitled to post  1978 deferred compensation, including interest. In support of the 1978 deferred compensation award, Bykofsky relies on the 1986 minutes of Aurora's Board of Directors which extended the maturity date of the 1978 deferred compensation package. The record shows that the post  1978 deferred compensation was reaffirmed repeatedly in Aurora's corporate tax returns and its audited financial statements. Therefore, we cannot say that the trial court erred in denying Aurora's directed verdict motion with respect to the principal sum of the 1978 deferred compensation claim, and instead, ruling that as a matter of law neither the statute of limitations nor the doctrine of laches barred Bykofsky's claim of entitlement to the principal sum of $16,250, because Aurora's minutes, corporate records and financial statements showed that Aurora continued to acknowledge its obligation to Bykofsky. We are satisfied that on the record before us, the evidence is so clear that reasonable persons could reach but one conclusion as to whether the statute of limitations barred Bykofsky's claim as to the principal sum of the 1978 deferred compensation. Osbourne, supra, 727 A.2d at 324 (other citations omitted). Furthermore, in our deferential review of the trial court's denial of Aurora's motion notwithstanding judgment with regard to the post  1978 deferred compensation payments with interest, and in viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Bykofsky, the prevailing party, and recognizing the role of the jury in making credibility and factual determinations, we conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Aurora's post-trial motion. See Durphy, supra, 698 A.2d at 465.