Opinion ID: 1680227
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the lower court err in refusing Instruction D-2 and in granting Instruction C.11?

Text: The two instructions follow: JURY INSTRUCTION NO. D-2 The Court instructs the jury that the Plaintiff is not entitled to recover punitive damages from the Defendant, Gaylord's of Gulfport, Inc. and INSTRUCTION NO. C.11 When you reach a verdict in this case, it should be written on a separate piece of paper, need not be signed by you, and may be in either of the following forms: If you find for the Plaintiff: `We, the jury, find for the Plaintiff and assess her actual damages at $ ____.' If you find for the Plaintiff and assess punitive damages: `We, the jury, find for the Plaintiff and assess her actual damages at $ ____; and her punitive damages at $ ____.' If you find for the Defendant: `We, the jury, find for the Defendant.' The appellant objects to the above instructions for the reason that they both refer to punitive damages, and argues that the proof did not sustain a claim for punitive damages. All the evidence, when considered by the jury, together with reasonable inferences, support the elements of malice and probable cause and make out a case for punitive damages on those issues. Therefore, the court correctly refused Instruction D-2 and granted Instructions C.11.