Opinion ID: 1207233
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: punitive damage issue

Text: The plaintiff contends that the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury that he was entitled to punitive damages. However, we have traditionally held that where the plaintiff does not prevail as to liability any errors he claims as to damage instructions are harmless because, without a verdict on the liability issue, he is not entitled to any damages. This principle is set out in Syllabus Point 3 of Martino v. Rotondi, 91 W.Va. 482, 113 S.E. 760 (1922): An instruction incorrectly stating the measure of damages to be applied in case recovery is had, cannot successfully be made the basis of an assignment of error, where the plaintiff is not entitled to any recovery at all. The error in giving such instruction in such case is harmless. See also Ratlief v. Yokum, W.Va., 280 S.E.2d 584, 590 (1981); cf. Legg v. Jones, 126 W.Va. 757, 30 S.E.2d 76 (1944). For the reasons stated, the judgment of the Circuit Court of Ohio County is affirmed. Affirmed.