Opinion ID: 1816534
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: did the chancellor err when he refused to allow the assessment of punitive damages against ips and m.c. clark, including attorney's fees?

Text: Under the Bank's final assignment of error, they maintain that the chancellor erred when he refused to award punitive damages, including attorney's fees, to them. It should be noted initially that the Bank has already been awarded $2,000.00 in attorney's fees for the Florida judgment and $5,938.99 in fees for the Mississippi judgment. As to punitive damages, the Bank correctly notes that in Tideway Oil Programs v. Serio, 431 So.2d 454, 459-467 (Miss. 1983), this Court stated that chancery courts were authorized to award punitive damages under the proper circumstances. Since then, this Court has in fact upheld the awarding of punitive damages by chancery courts. Central Bank of Mississippi v. Butler, 517 So.2d 507, 512 (Miss. 1987). Tideway lists a variety of circumstances under which punitive damages could be properly awarded. These circumstances include where the defendant has done to the plaintiff such a wrong as to import insult, fraud, oppression or reckless disregard for the rights of plaintiff, or upon a showing of willful and intentional wrong, or for such gross negligence and reckless conduct as is equivalent to such a wrong. 431 So.2d at 465. The finding of a fraudulent conveyance justifies the imposition of punitive damages, but this Court elects not to reverse the chancellor on this point.