Opinion ID: 1783925
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Was the Conduct Profitable to BMW NA?

Text: The next issue we address is whether the conduct was profitable to BMW NA. The evidence shows that it was. In fact, the jury awarded Gore $4,000 in compensatory damages. One of the purposes for assessing punitive damages is to remove the profit resulting from a fraud or misrepresentation. Punitive damages should be in excess of the profit, so that the wrongdoer recognizes a loss. We find that the evidence was legally sufficient to withstand a directed verdict motion; therefore, it was a jury question whether that evidence produced in the mind of the trier of fact a firm conviction as to each essential element of the claim and a high probability as to the correctness of the conclusion; see Ala.Code 1975, § 6-11-20(b)(4).