Opinion ID: 1710610
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: dr. holly's cross-appeal

Text: Dr. Holly argues that the conduct of appellants was deceitful, oppressive and wrongful, justifying an award of punitive damages. Holden v. Construction Machinery Co., 202 N.W.2d 348 (Iowa 1972). The chancellor, however, held that punitive damages should not be awarded in this case. In South Central Bell v. Epps, 509 So.2d 886, 892 (Miss. 1987), this Court held that there is no right to an award of punitive damages and such damages are to be awarded only in extreme cases. This Court also noted in South Central Bell, which was tried before a jury in circuit court, that: Of course, the trial judge initially determines whether to submit the issue of punitive damages to the jury. He is required to review all of the evidence presented and determine whether the facts of the case and the conduct of the defendant was such that `the jury should be called upon to decide the justification and amount of punitive damages... .' Blue Cross [and Blue Shield of Mississippi, Inc. v. Campbell], 466 So.2d [833] at 842 [(Miss. 1984)]. However, such a decision cannot come from precise formula but rather must come from the trial judge's life experience. Fedders Corp. v. Boatright, 493 So.2d at 311. Nevertheless, we will not hesitate to reverse the trial judge's decision where the facts of a particular case do not warrant instructing the jury as to the availability of punitive damages. See Fedders Corp. v. Boatright, 493 So.2d 301 (Miss. 1986), (trial judge's decision to instruct jury on punitive damages reversed). South Central Bell, 509 So.2d at 893. In Fought v. Morris, 543 So.2d 167, 173 (Miss. 1989), a chancery case, we held that whether to award punitive damages was within the discretion of the chancellor, and will not be disturbed by this Court absent an abuse of said discretion. While some members of this Court may be of the opinion that this is a case in which punitive damages should not have been altogether denied, it was manifestly within the discretion of the chancellor to make such a decision, and we are unable to hold that he abused his discretion in refusing to award punitive damages.