Opinion ID: 2630568
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Haws Companies

Text: ¶ 35 Haws' connection to the fraud is more attenuated than that of the other three defendants, and the arguments for a further remittitur with regard to Haws apply with even greater force. The remitted award is, however, within the acceptable ratios we outlined in Crookston I. The fact that an award falls within appropriate ratios is not, by itself, dispositive of the appropriateness of the award, however. While the trial court indicated its belief that an award equal to 25% of a company's net worth is unlikely to result in bankruptcy, this award represents a substantial percentage of Haws' value, and further reduction is required. A punitive damage award of $50,000, while slightly below a 1:1 ratio, will serve to punish and deter Haws while reflecting its lesser participation in the fraud and its lower degree of culpability.