Opinion ID: 1387773
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Punitive Damages under Count I

Text: At the close of Leon's case, the trial court directed a verdict for Carver on Leon's punitive damage claim, declaring that Leon had failed to produce clear and convincing evidence of fraudulent intent and reliance. Although Leon presented evidence of events from which he asks us to draw inferences of fraud, we are not persuaded that the trial court was wrong under the test of clear and convincing evidence; consequently, there was no issue for the jury and a directed verdict was proper. NMSA 1978, UJI Civ. 8.20, Directions for Use (Repl.Pamp. 1980). Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Leon, Archuleta v. Pina, 86 N.M. 94, 519 P.2d 1175 (1974), we are unable to say that the trial court misjudged the evidence.