Opinion ID: 2052464
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Denial of Jensens' claim for exemplary damages.

Text: Jensens claim that they were entitled to a hearing on their punitive damages claim pursuant to SDCL 21-1-4.1, which provides: In any claim alleging punitive or exemplary damages, before any discovery relating thereto may be commenced and before any such claim may be submitted to the finder of fact, the court shall find, after a hearing and based upon clear and convincing evidence, that there is a reasonable basis to believe that there has been willful, wanton or malicious conduct on the part of the party claimed against. Under SDCL 21-1-4, however, the general remedy of damages does not include exemplary damages nor interest on any damages unless expressly provided by statute. Moreover, SDCL 43-23-6 [6] provides that an aggrieved landowner may recover $25 as liquidated damages in addition to one-half of the cost of the erection of a legal fence. It thus appears clear that the legislature intended that Jensens are entitled only to the $25 liquidated damage award and cannot recover anything further by way of the punitive damage claim. To hold otherwise would contravene the settled law. See K & E Land & Cattle Inc. v. Mayer, 330 N.W.2d 529 (S.D.1983), wherein we noted that where a statute provides for multiple or excess damages, punitive damages are not recoverable. B.