Court Opinion

ID: 9666394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:13:42.839279+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:56:33.208356
License: Public Domain

*152SHRUM, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the disposition of Count I and in the disposition of the judgment for actual damages under Count II. On the issue of punitive damages under Count II, I depart from the majority opinion. Given the defendants’ close involvement with the Assembly and its affairs, their failure in challenging the local pastor, and the “suspension” of their church membership, I believe the trier of fact properly could have concluded the defendants’ conduct in excluding the Assembly from its parsonage was outrageous, because of either evil motive or reckless indifference to the rights of the Assembly. I believe the evidence does satisfy the standard enunciated in Burnett v. Griffith, 769 S.W.2d 780 (Mo.banc 1989). Accordingly, upon remand, I would permit the trial court to consider the issue of punitive damages.