Opinion ID: 884112
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues

Text: Did the District Court err in granting United's motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages? At the conclusion of Barnes' case in chief, the District Court granted United's motion for directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages. The District Court, however, failed to set forth any findings as to why it did not allow punitive damages. Nevertheless, this Court will affirm a district court's grant of a directed verdict if the court's conclusion is correct regardless of the reasons given. Riley v. American Honda Motor Co. (1993), 259 Mont. 128, 131, 856 P.2d 196, 198 (citing Laurie v. M. & L. Realty Corp. (1972), 159 Mont. 404, 408, 498 P.2d 1192, 1194). We review a directed verdict in light of the evidence most favorable to the party against whom the verdict was directed. LaVelle v. Kenneally (1974), 165 Mont. 418, 529 P.2d 788. Barnes claims punitive damages should have been assessed upon United because of United's malicious acts. Punitive damages may be awarded when the defendant is found, by clear and convincing evidence, to be guilty of actual malice. Section 27-1-221(1), (5), MCA. A defendant is guilty of actual malice if he has knowledge of facts or intentionally disregards facts that create a high probability of injury to the plaintiff and ... deliberately proceeds to act with indifference to the high probability of injury to the plaintiff. Section 27-1-221(2), MCA. Barnes alleges United placed the pipe over the sidewalk and left it there for a period of two weeks in wanton and willful indifference to the hazard the pipe created for pedestrians and bicyclists. United contends there was no evidence presented that showed the employee who laid the pipe across the sidewalk acted in conscious or blatant disregard of the high probability of injury to Barnes, or that the employee deliberately proceeded to act in indifference to the high probability of injury to Barnes. The employee testified that the barricade was in place when he initially laid the pipe on the sidewalk and every time he moved the pipe thereafter. Barnes produced no evidence to the contrary. In Niles v. Big Sky Eyewear (1989), 236 Mont. 455, 460, 771 P.2d 114, 117, overruled on other grounds by Sacco v. High Country Independent Press (1995), 271 Mont. 209, 229, 896 P.2d 411, 423, we held punitive damages were not appropriate where the plaintiff had not presented a prima facie case including clear and convincing evidence of all elements required under § 27-1-221, MCA. In order to render a defendant liable for exemplary damages, plaintiff must allege and prove something more than mere negligence. Gagnier v. Curran Const. Co. (1968), 151 Mont. 468, 480, 443 P.2d 894, 901. In the present case, Barnes did not produce any evidence to contradict the testimony of United's employee. Accordingly, Barnes is not entitled to an award of punitive damages. Therefore, we hold that the District Court did not err in granting United's motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages.