Opinion ID: 2777592
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: conclusion

Text: [¶46] The district court’s calculation of the actual damages caused by Hatch’s billing practices was clearly erroneous, and the evidence was insufficient to support a finding that Hatch breached the implied warranty of workmanship and damaged Walton. We therefore reverse and remand for the district court to correct its damages calculations in accordance with this opinion. The court did not abuse its discretion in declining to award attorney fees as punitive damages. Affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part. 11 In a jury trial, the court must bifurcate proceedings to determine the amount of punitive damages from the trial on the merits, at which the jury must only determine whether a defendant’s conduct was sufficiently egregious to warrant any award of exemplary damages if it awards compensatory damages. Ruwart v. Wagner, 880 P.2d 586, 593 (Wyo. 1994) (citing Campen v. Stone, 635 P.2d 1121, 1127 (Wyo. 1981)). Bifurcation would have been unnecessary and futile in a bench trial. 13