Opinion ID: 1881709
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: The trial court erred in failing to allow Plaintiff to present evidence concerning the wrongful conduct of the Defendant in relationship to punitive damages and in failing to grant Plaintiffs Jury Instructions P-11, P-12, and P-13.

Text: ¶ 88. On cross-appeal, Jackson asserts that the trial court erred in failing to allow him to present evidence concerning wrongful conduct of the defendant, Alpha, and in failing to grant Jury Instructions P-11, P-12, and P-13. Alpha contends that Jackson fails to rely on the applicable statute, Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-65 (Supp.2001), and that the statute supercedes some of the case law cited by Jackson. ¶ 89. The applicable Mississippi statute concerning punitive damages is § 11-1-65. This statute states in part the following: (1) In any action in which punitive damages are sought: (a) Punitive damages may not be awarded if the claimant does not prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant against whom punitive damages are sought acted with actual malice, gross negligence which evidences a willful, wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of others, or committed actual fraud. (b) In any action in which the claimant seeks an award of punitive damages, the trier of fact shall first determine whether compensatory damages are to be awarded and in what amount, before addressing any issues related to punitive damages. (c) If, but only if, an award of compensatory damages has been made against a party, the court shall promptly commence an evidentiary hearing before the same trier of fact to determine whether punitive damages may be considered. (d) The court shall determine whether the issue of punitive damages may be submitted to the trier of fact; and, if so, the trier of fact shall determine whether to award punitive damages and in what amount ... Miss.Code Ann. § 11-1-65 (Supp.2001) (emphasis added). The statute and case law specifically give the court the authority to initially determine whether the particular facts of a case merit the submission of the issue of punitive damages to the jury. Id. Miss Code Ann. § 11-1-65(1)(d) (Supp. 2001). In Ross-King-Walker, Inc. v. Henson , this Court held the following: In determining the propriety of submitting the issue of punitive damages to the jury, the trial court decides whether, under the totality of the circumstances and viewing the defendant's conduct in the aggregate, a reasonable, hypothetical trier of fact could find either malice or gross neglect/reckless disregard. Ross-King-Walker, Inc. v. Henson, 672 So.2d 1188, 1191 (Miss.1996). See also Summers v. St. Andrew's Episcopal Sch. Inc., 759 So.2d 1203, 1215 (Miss.2000); Wallace v. Thornton, 672 So.2d 724, 728 (Miss.1996); Thomas v. Harrah's Vicksburg Corp., 734 So.2d 312, 322 (Miss.Ct. App.1999). Clearly, the trial court is the gatekeeper for the issue of whether punitive damages, in cases involving both intentional and non-intentional torts, should be submitted and considered by a jury. [1] ¶ 90. Punitive damages are assessed in extreme cases and are intended to be an example and warning to others. Wallace 672 So.2d at 728. However, there is no right to an award of punitive damages and such damages are to be awarded only in extreme cases. South Central Bell v. Epps, 509 So.2d 886, 892 (Miss.1987). This Court held that a plaintiff can recover punitive damages only if there is a demonstrated willful or malicious wrong or if there is gross, reckless disregard for the rights of others. Boling v. A-1 Detective & Patrol Serv., Inc., 659 So.2d 586, 588 (Miss.1995). ¶ 91. False imprisonment is considered an intentional tort. Miss.Code Ann. § 15-1-35 (1995); City of Mound Bayou v. Johnson, 562 So.2d 1212, 1218 (Miss.1990). In addition, the Court in Mound Bayou recognized that malicious prosecution has been placed in the category of intentional torts on several occasions. Miss.Code Ann. § 15-1-35. This Court held that malicious prosecution is subject to the same statute of limitations as the enumerated torts in Miss.Code Ann. § 15-1-35. 562 So.2d at 1219. ¶ 92. The trial court ruling in the case sub judice did not allow the punitive damages to be submitted to the jury. The trial judge recognized, among other things, that Jackson stated that he did not use profanity or raise his voice and Sutton did not believe Jackson should be arrested. Notwithstanding the testimony, the trial court judge indicated that the evidence presented did not meet the clear and convincing evidence standard required by the punitive damages statute. This Court finds that the trial court, as the gatekeeper of whether the issue of punitive damages is to be submitted to the jury, correctly determined that the facts of the case do not support a hypothetical juror finding malice or reckless disregard for Jackson's rights. Accordingly, the trial court correctly determined that the jury instructions for punitive damages should not have been granted to Jackson.