Opinion ID: 1673320
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Verdict Form and Damages

Text: American Pioneer argues that the court erred in submitting verdict forms to the jury which only allowed one amount for compensatory damages against all defendants whom the jury found liable and one amount for punitive damages against all defendants subject thereto. American Pioneer insists that the evidence was different against the various defendants and thus the court should have given the jury separate forms. The only action taken by American Pioneer at trial, however, was to request the court to give the jury verdict forms as to each count ( not each defendant). American Pioneer made no objection and took no exception even on this ground, much less on the issue now argued, so nothing is presented for our review. American Pioneer also argues that the damages were excessive. The trial court overruled American Pioneer's motion for new trial or remittitur, however, and we see no reason to disturb that decision in light of the evidence of the intentional, gross, and oppressive nature of the fraud. American Pioneer has filed a motion for reduction of the supersedeas bond because of the pro tanto settlement by Lincoln National. The bond came up for renewal after the pro tanto settlement and American Pioneer sought to pay its surety a premium only on the judgment as reduced by the settlement. We are informed that American Pioneer and its surety have agreed to base the premium on this Court's decision on this motion. Such a reduction is appropriate under the posture of this case. The question, after the pro tanto settlement, was whether American Pioneer would be totally discharged or have its liability reduced by the $900,000 settlement. Thus, the bonding company was subject to liability only on the $2,200,000 potential liability of American Pioneer after the settlement, and its premium should be reduced accordingly. Ayres' objection in the trial court to such a reduction was that an order to that effect might constitute a satisfaction of the judgment and discharge American Pioneer. There is no such problem in the case as now postured. We therefore grant the motion. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. AFFIRMED. TORBERT, C.J., and FAULKNER, JONES, SHORES, EMBRY, BEATTY and ADAMS, JJ., concur. MADDOX, J., concurs specially.