Opinion ID: 532742
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Kuwait's Request for a New Trial on Punitive Damages

Text: 48 Kuwait claims that the District Court erred in dismissing its claim against ASB for punitive damages based on the flagrant or malicious breach of contract, see Kuwait Airways Corp., slip op. at 7-8, reprinted in J.A. 81-82, and seeks remand for a new trial on this sole issue. Kuwait contends that it properly pleaded and presented sufficient evidence to warrant submission of the issue of punitive damages to a jury. We conclude that the District Court did not err. 49 Under District of Columbia law, punitive damages for breach of contract may be assessed  'in certain, narrowly defined circumstances, where a breach of contract merges with, and assumes the character of, a willful tort, calculated rather than inadvertent, flagrant, and in disregard of obligations of trust.'  Wagman v. Lee, 457 A.2d 401, 405 n. 5 (D.C.) (quoting Brown v. Coates, 253 F.2d 36, 39 (D.C.Cir.1958)), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 849, 104 S.Ct. 158, 78 L.Ed.2d 145 (1983). The District Court determined that: 50 KAC's claim for punitive damages based on the flagrant or malicious breach of contract was supported by no evidence. Indeed, the only evidence of the contract was the testimony of former ASB employee, Jerry Parker, and former KAC employee, Hratch Azadian. These witnesses testified only as to the circumstances surrounding the opening of the original KAC account ... not the 640 account. No other evidence concerning the contract claim was offered. Thus, there was no evidentiary basis upon which to submit the claim for punitive damages to the jury. 51 Kuwait Airways Corp., slip op. at 7-8, reprinted in J.A. 81-82. Aside from referencing a study which showed that ASB lacked corporate documentation in forty-seven percent of the corporate accounts at the branch in question, Kuwait mentions no other evidence in its brief and claims merely that the actions reflect ASB's reckless indifference to the rights of Kuwait and its other customers. On these facts, Kuwait's claim for punitive damages was properly withheld from the jury. See Brady v. Southern Ry., 320 U.S. 476, 479-80, 64 S.Ct. 232, 234, 88 L.Ed. 239 (1943) (standards for directed verdict); see also Wilson v. Good Humor Corp., 757 F.2d 1293, 1298 (D.C.Cir.1985) (same).