Court Opinion

ID: 9705191
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:59:25.306943+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:08.715623
License: Public Domain

*142SPAETH, J.,
files a concurring and dissenting opinion:
I concur in the majority’s decision except as to the punitive damages, which I think are excessive, even as reduced by the majority.
An appellate court may reduce the amount of punitive damages if it finds them excessive. Purcell v. Westinghouse Broadcasting Co., 411 Pa. 167, 191 A.2d 662 (1963). Whether they are excessive will depend on the circumstances of the particular case, International Electronic Co. v. N.S.T. Metal Products Co., 370 Pa. 213, 88 A.2d 40 (1952), for no two cases are the same. Shelton v. Evans, 292 Pa.Super. 228, 437 A.2d 18 (1981). More specifically, punitive damages are excessive if they are disproportionate to the compensatory damages awarded, Golomb v. Korus, 261 Pa.Super. 344, 396 A.2d 430 (1978), or have no reasonable relation to the amount of compensatory damages, Hughes v. Babock, 349 Pa. 475, 37 A.2d 551. See also Thomas v. E.J. Korvette, 329 F.Supp. 1163 (E.D.Pa.1971). A consideration of proportionality persuades me that here the punitive damages awarded by the majority are excessive. I have found no case with nearly so high a multiplier as eleven times compensatory damages. See, e.g. Purcell v. Westinghouse Co., supra (punitive damages of $50,000 reduced to $30,000 in defamation suit where compensatory damages were $10,-000); Richette v. Pennsylvania R.R., 410 Pa. 6, 187 A.2d 910 (1963) (punitive damages of $15,000 reduced to $5,000 in interference with contract suit where compensatory damages were $10,000); Voltz v. G.M.A.C., 332 Pa. 141, 2 A.2d 697 (1938) (punitive damages of $2,500 in replevin action reduced on appeal to $1,000 where actual damages were $859); Thompson v. Swank, 317 Pa. 158, 176 A. 211 (1934) (in unlawful restraint action, where plaintiff awarded $200 in actual damages, $3,000 in punitive damages reduced to $1,500 because grossly disproportionate).
I should award punitive damages of no more than. $250,-000—the amount requested by plaintiff-appellee below.