Opinion ID: 1109815
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: was an award of punitive damages warranted by the evidence?

Text: MPC argues that even if it was guilty of negligence, the evidence does not justify an award of punitive damages. We have numerous cases setting forth the requirements for awarding punitive damages annotated in Mississippi Digest Damages, key number 91(3). Our cases generally hold that punitive damages are recoverable in negligence cases only when the negligence is so gross that reckless or wanton disregard of safety of others is indicated. Maupin v. Dennis, 252 Miss. 496, 175 So.2d 130 (1965); Belk v. Rosamond, 213 Miss. 633, 57 So.2d 461 (1952); Teche Lines, Inc. v. Pope, 175 Miss. 393, 166 So. 539 (1936). We agree with the argument of MPC that punitive damages may be recovered only where the negligence is so gross as to indicate reckless or wanton disregard for the safety of others, and that an unlawful act within itself is not ground for an award of punitive damages. However, distributors of electricity are required to observe a very high degree of care in distribution of the dangerous agency of electricity. In Mississippi Power & Light Co. v. Shepard, 285 So.2d 725 (Miss. 1973) we stated: The degree of diligence which a distributor of electricity must observe in the distribution of the dangerous agency of electricity is a very high degree of care. When human life is at stake due care under the prevailing circumstances requires that everything that gives reasonable promise of preserving life must be done regardless of difficulty or expense. Moreover, the degree of care increases as the danger increases. (285 So.2d at 729). The evidence is without dispute that MPC energized the electrical system in the building with the oral approval rather than the written approval of the inspector as required by the ordinance of the City of Meridian. The purpose of requiring a written certificate from the city electrical engineer was to prevent injuries such as the one sustained by Jones. The ordinance was designed to eliminate, so far as humanly possible, the possibility of misunderstanding information conveyed orally rather than in writing. MPC energized the system without securing written approval, thus evidencing a reckless and wanton disregard for the safety of any person who might have been working on the system. MPC also argues that it had been the practice for a long period of time to obtain oral approval from the city electrical inspector and its failure to pick up a written certificate before turning on the electricity was a technicality which did not constitute misconduct so flagrant as to transcend mere carelessness. In effect, MPC is arguing that this procedure had been followed for such a length of time that it amounted to a business practice. Violation of city ordinances or other laws, although often repeated, does not give rise to a business practice which will insulate one from failure to abide by the ordinance. Violations are not excused because regulations have not been enforced or because particular regulations have been generally disregarded or because, in the opinion of the experts, the requirement is unwise, or because the prescribed protection offered by the regulation would be lacking in efficiency or is unnecessary.