Opinion ID: 1799262
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: evidence of hardaway's financial condition.

Text: It has been the law of this Commonwealth for almost one hundred years that in an action for punitive damages, the parties may not present evidence or otherwise advise the jury of the financial condition of either side of the litigation. [2] Hensley v. Paul Miller Ford, Ky., 508 S.W.2d 759, 764 (1974); Givens v. Berkley, 108 Ky. 236, 56 S.W. 158 (1900). The same rule applies in cases where punitive damages are not sought. [3] Dawson v. Shannon, 225 Ky. 635, 9 S.W.2d 998 (1928). Although Southerland attempted to introduce evidence of Hardaway's financial condition at trial, she was precluded from doing so when Hardaway's objection to the introduction of a financial statement was sustained and the witness professed to have no knowledge as to whether Hardaway had made a profit the previous year. The only evidence introduced along this line was that Hardaway managed over 8,000 apartment units. Although this information was only marginally relevant to the issues in this case, we agree with the Court of Appeals that the introduction of this evidence did not affect Hardaway's substantial rights. CR 61.01. The jury already knew that Hardaway was engaged in the business of apartment management on a multi-state basis, and there was no mention of this information during closing arguments.