Opinion ID: 1693449
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Submission of the punitive damages issue to the jury

Text: ¶ 59. The trial judge determined that there was an issue for the jury to determine punitive damages in this case. The applicable Mississippi statute concerning punitive damages is Miss.Code Ann. § 111-65, which states in part: (1) In any action in which punitive damages are sought: (a) Punitive damages may not be awarded if the claimant does not prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant against whom punitive damages are sought acted with actual malice, gross negligence which evidences a willful, wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of others, or committed actual fraud. (b) In any action in which the claimant seeks an award of punitive damages, the trier of fact shall first determine whether compensatory damages are to be awarded and in what amount, before addressing any issues related to punitive damages. (c) If, but only if, an award of compensatory damages has been made against a party, the court shall promptly commence an evidentiary hearing before the same trier of fact to determine whether punitive damages may be considered. (d) The court shall determine whether the issue of punitive damages may be submitted to the trier of fact; and, if so, the trier of fact shall determine whether to award punitive damages and in what amount ... Miss.Code Ann. § 11-1-65 (Supp.2001) (emphasis added). The statute and case law specifically give the trial court the authority to initially determine whether the particular facts of a case merit the submission of the issue of punitive damages to the jury. Id. § 11-1-65(1)(d) (Supp.2000). This Court has held: In determining the propriety of submitting the issue of punitive damages to the jury, the trial court decides whether, under the totality of the circumstances and viewing the defendant's conduct in the aggregate, a reasonable, hypothetical trier of fact could find either malice or gross neglect/reckless disregard. Ross-King-Walker, Inc. v. Henson, 672 So.2d 1188, 1191 (Miss.1996). See also Summers ex rel Dawson v. St. Andrews Episcopal Sch. Inc., 759 So.2d 1203, 1215 (Miss.2000); Wallace v Thornton, 672 So.2d 724, 728 (Miss.1996); Thomas v. Harrah's Vicksburg Corp., 734 So.2d. 312, 322 (Miss.Ct.App.1999). The trial court has the discretion to determine if the issue of punitive damages are to be submitted to the jury in cases involving both intentional and non-intentional torts. ¶ 60. This Court has held that punitive damages are assessed in extreme cases and are intended to be an example and warning to others. Wallace, 672 So.2d at 728. However, there is no right to an award of punitive damages and such damages are to be awarded only in extreme cases. South Cent. Bell v. Epps, 509 So.2d 886, 892 (Miss.1987). This Court held that a plaintiff can recover punitive damages only if there is a demonstrated willful or malicious wrong or if there is gross, reckless disregard for the rights of others. Boling v. A-1 Detective & Patrol Serv. Inc., 659 So.2d 586, 588 (Miss.1995). In Colonial Mortgage Co. v. Lee, 525 So.2d 804, 807-08 (Miss.1988), this Court, held that when a trial court is faced with the decision whether to grant a punitive damages instruction [t]he question is whether there is a sufficient evidentiary basis to warrant the instruction, i.e., is the evidence sufficiently disputed that a jury issue has been made? The test to determine this is as follows: The test is the same when the propriety of the instruction is tested via post-trial motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The trial courtand this Court on appealmust look at the elements of the punitive damages claim enumerated above and decide whether, under the totality of the circumstances and viewing the defendant's conduct in the aggregate, a reasonable, hypothetical trier of fact could have found either malice or gross neglect/reckless disregard. Id. In determining whether the issue of punitive damages should be submitted to the jury, the trial court must decide `whether under the totality of the circumstances and viewing the defendant's conduct in the aggregate, a reasonable, hypothetical trier of fact could have found either malice or gross negligence or reckless disregard.' Wallace, 672 So.2d at 728 (quoting Peoples Bank & Trust Co. v. Cermack, 658 So.2d 1352, 1361 (Miss. 1995)). ¶ 61. Conversion is an intentional tort. The trial court ruled that there was an issue of punitive damages to be submitted to the jury. The trial court determined that there was sufficient evidence for the issue of punitive damages to be submitted to the jury. In making his decision to submit the issue of punitive damages to the jury, the trial court referenced the testimony from a bank officer who stated that he was going to put Courtney out of business. Indeed, Courtney testified that when he realized that the consolidated note had been altered, he called Wayne Davis at the Bank. Courtney then stated that [a]nd his exact words was to me `I got [it] on my note. I am going to get it. I'm going to put you out of business. You didn't help me when I needed it, and I ain't doing it in return.' When Courtney told Davis about Ming a lawsuit, Courtney stated [a]nd he told me that I could carry it to court, but I would never live long enough to get a dime. ¶ 62. In addition, the record shows that Courtney disputed the Bank's claim on the equipment from the very beginning. As soon as he received notice, Courtney appeared numerous times in court and even filed an appeal to this Court prior to the auction. The Bank knew of the appeal and yet continued to proceed with the auction. In addition, the Bank clearly had possession of some equipment that was not even listed or, the order of possession and did not return the equipment in a prompt manner. I conclude that under the totality of the circumstances and viewing the defendant's conduct in the aggregate, a reasonable, hypothetical trier of fact could have found either malice or gross negligence or reckless disregard in submitting the jury instructions for punitive damages to the jury.