Court Opinion

ID: 9664731
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 00:27:39.523237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:09.418981
License: Public Domain

Concurring opinion by
Justice MCANULTY.
I agree with the Majority that the amount of punitive damages awarded did not violate due process as promulgated by Gore and Campbell. I also agree that Steel Technologies did not preserve the other two issues relating to punitive damages — (1) whether the award violated KRS 411.184(3) and (2) whether Steel Technologies’ conduct rose to the level of gross negligence. The record is incomplete as to the preservation of these issues and it is Appellant’s duty to ensure a complete record for appeal. CR 75.13 allows an appellant to prepare a narrative statement to supplement the record in places where a gap may exist in the recording or transcript. Steel Technologies failed to avail itself of this rule, instead choosing to cite instances in the record from which it might be inferred that the issue was properly preserved. Inferential preservation does not satisfy the requirements of the rules. See Hall v. King, 432 S.W.2d 394 (1968) (requiring motion for directed verdict at the close of all the evidence for entitlement to JNOV); CR 76.12(4)(c)(v) (Appellant’s brief must contain “a statement with reference to the record showing whether the issue was properly preserved for review[.]”).
*933I write separately out of concern that future plaintiffs will analogize their cases to the facts of this one and feel likewise entitled to punitive damages. This is a regrettable and tragic case, resulting in the death of a young mother, but it is also a case of ordinary negligence. The Majority opinion should not be construed as setting a new culpability standard for an award of punitive damages; gross negligence is still required by both our statutory and common laws. “If the act was willful or the negligence gross, punitive damages may be recovered.” KRS 411.180. Gross negligence requires “a finding of failure to exercise reasonable care, and then an additional finding that this negligence was accompanied by ‘wanton or reckless disregard for the lives, safety or property of others.’ ” Horton v. Union Light, Heat & Power Co., 690 S.W.2d 382, 389-390 (1985). In my opinion, although Steel Technologies failed to exercise reasonable care, the failure did not evince a wanton or reckless disregard for others. This case should not serve as notice that ordinary negligence cases warrant punitive damages.