Opinion ID: 1148014
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the trial court err in awarding $55,000 of punitive damages and $11,000 attorneys' fees?

Text: After the Chancery Court of Rankin County rendered its opinion May 17, 1985, it reconvened July 9, 1985 to determine what amount of punitive damages and attorneys' fees to award. Authority of the chancery court to award punitive damages is without question. Tideway Oil Programs, Inc. v. Serio, 431 So.2d 454 (Miss. 1983). After receiving proof of CBM's financial condition and hearing other testimony, the chancellor awarded $55,000 punitive damages and $11,000 attorneys' fees. Punitive damages are assessed as an example and warning to others and should be allowed only with caution and within narrow limits. Standard Life Insurance Company of Indiana v. Veal, 354 So.2d 239, 247 (Miss. 1977); State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Simpson, 477 So.2d 242, 249 (Miss. 1985). Punitive damages are assessed only in extreme cases. Gardner v. Jones, 464 So.2d 1144, 1148 (Miss. 1985); Tideway Oil Programs, Inc. v. Serio, 431 So.2d 454, 460 (Miss. 1983) [P]unitive damages are recoverable where the defendant has done to the plaintiff such a wrong as to import insult, fraud, oppression or reckless disregard for the rights of the plaintiff. Gardner v. Jones, 464 So.2d at 1149. Regarding attorneys' fees, this Court has held that in the absence of contractual provisions or statutory authority, attorneys' fees may not be awarded as damages in a case unless punitive damages are also proper. Grisham v. Hinton, 490 So.2d 1201, 1205 (Miss. 1986); Gardner v. Jones, 464 So.2d 1144, 1150 (Miss. 1985); Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Steele, 373 So.2d 797, 801 (Miss. 1979). Having submitted the relevant facts and the applicable caselaw, this Court affirms the award of punitive damages and attorneys' fees as proper under these facts.