Opinion ID: 1322149
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: camden fire

Text: The case involving Camden Fire is before us upon appeal from an order of the Circuit Court of McDowell County, entered on December 21, 1983, in which that court denied the appellant's motion under W.Va.R.Civ.P. 60(b) to set aside a default judgment obtained against it by Lonnie Justice, the appellee, for $61,276.16 in compensatory damages and $300,000 in punitive damages plus interest and costs. In August, 1979, the appellee obtained fire insurance from Camden Fire upon real property titled in the name of his son. In 1981, the property was destroyed by fire, however, upon investigation, Camden Fire refused to pay the appellee the benefits under the policy. Camden Fire filed an action for declaratory judgment in the Circuit Court of McDowell County to determine the existence of an insurable interest in the property by the appellee. The appellee answered the complaint and asserted a counterclaim against Camden Fire for the loss to the property under the terms of the policy. He also joined as a third-party defendant the insurance brokerage firm through which the insurance was purchased. In the counterclaim, the appellee demanded $63,900 in compensatory damages and $25,000 in punitive damages plus interest and costs. Approximately one year later, the appellee served interrogatories upon Camden Fire and the third-party defendant. Camden Fire failed to answer the interrogatories. The appellee moved the circuit court to compel Camden Fire to answer the interrogatories and in an order entered on February 4, 1983, the appellant was ordered to answer such interrogatories by February 14, 1983, or judgment will be entered against the plaintiff.... The interrogatories remained unanswered and in April, 1983, the appellee moved the circuit court to strike the appellant's pleadings. In an order entered on May 2, 1983, the court granted the appellee a default judgment and dismissed from the action the insurance broker. A jury trial was held to determine damages. The jury returned a verdict for $61,276.16 in compensatory damages and $300,000 in punitive damages. The judgment order of the circuit court indicates that the appellee moved the court pursuant to W.Va.R.Civ.P. 15(b) to amend the demand for judgment in the counterclaim to reflect an increased demand for punitive damages in the amount of $300,000. The motion was granted and the court awarded the appellee total damages in the amount of $361,276.16 plus interest and costs.