Opinion ID: 1989929
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was there a basis to submit the punitive damages issue to jury?

Text: Deere contends that insufficient evidence was presented to support the submission of Revere's punitive damage claim to the jury. The evidence to support an award must be clear, convincing and satisfactory. See Iowa Code § 668A.1(1)(a); accord Wilson v. IBP, Inc., 558 N.W.2d 132, 142 (Iowa 1996) ( Wilson I ). Conduct that establishes a willful and wanton disregard for the rights or safety of another will support an award of punitive damages. Wilson I, 558 N.W.2d at 142 (citing Iowa Code § 668A.1(1)(a)). We have approved the following definition of willful and wanton conduct for section 668A.1(1) purposes: [T]he actor has intentionally done an act of an unreasonable character in disregard of a known or obvious risk that was so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow, and which thus is usually accompanied by a conscious indifference to the consequences. Fell v. Kewanee Farm Equip. Co., 457 N.W.2d 911, 919 (Iowa 1990) (quoting Prosser and Keeton on Torts § 34, at 213 (1984)); accord Midwest Home Distrib. v. Domco Indus., 585 N.W.2d 735, 743 (Iowa 1998). Only evidence that is relevant to the underlying wrong for which liability is imposed can support an award of punitive damages. Wilson I, 558 N.W.2d at 142. As previously noted, the evidence shows that Deere conversed with Delfino and Eckart, while they were still employed by Revere, to develop a device that would directly compete with Revere. Deere received confidential information belonging to Revere from Delfino and Eckart, knowing that they were bound by a nondisclosure-confidentiality agreement. Deere employees testified they did not want Revere to know about their discussions with Delfino and Eckart. Deere continued to purchase Gozintas from Revere for almost one year while secretly developing with D E a replacement part for the Gozinta. Based on this information, the jury could infer that Deere intended to give Revere a false sense of security concerning its future purchases of Gozintas. We believe that this evidence was sufficient to justify submission of the issue of punitive damages to the jury. We therefore affirm the district court's decision to submit the punitive damage issue to the jury.