Court Opinion

ID: 9793590
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:50:21.203544+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:12.139541
License: Public Domain

WILKINS, Justice
(dissenting):
I respectfully dissent.
Though there may have been a question for the jury on the issue of malice, it is my opinion that plaintiff was not prejudiced by the Court’s ruling. Punitive damages are improper in this case. Plaintiff prayed for specific performance of the option agreement and conveyance of his 501 shares. He has not pled nor proved any actual or com-pensable damages.
This Court has consistently held that punitive damages must bear a reasonable relationship to actual damages suffered.1 Requiring as a prerequisite to an award of punitive damages that a party demonstrate the harm he has suffered which entitles him to an award of actual damages insures that the courts will have a standard by which to measure the reasonableness of an award of punitive damages. With no actual damage award to consider, the major factor used in determining the reasonable relationship of an award of punitive damages to the wrongful party’s conduct would be eliminated.
But the underlying reason for denying punitive damages where no compensatory damages have been pled or proved is more fundamental than the above rule. Plaintiff sought the equitable remedy of specific performance and did not seek compensatory damages for breach of the option contract.
Had plaintiff prayed for such damages in the alternative, the Court could not have granted both the legal remedy (money damages for the value of the shares) and the equitable remedy (the shares' themselves), since that would result in double recovery by plaintiff. Punitive damages are part of the legal remedy and should not be granted in addition to equity.
*780Having prayed for equity, plaintiff must do equity.2 Punitive damages are contrary to the principles of equity jurisprudence, for equity abhors a penalty or forfeiture3 and seeks to restore the parties to their status quo.4 By seeking punitive damages, plaintiff not only seeks a penalty against defendant, but recovery for himself of something in addition to the restoration of his rights. Having invoked the most benignant powers of courts of justice, plaintiff should not be successful in demanding, in addition to equity, a punishment which “is sickbed o’er” with vengeance.5

. Kesler v. Rogers, Utah, 542 P.2d 354 (1975); Prince v. Peterson, Utah, 538 P.2d 1325 (1975); Monter v. Kratzers Specialty Bread Co., 29 Utah 2d 18, 504 P.2d 40 (1972); Evans v. Gaisford, 122 Utah 156, 247 P.2d 431 (1952); Maw v. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, 20 Utah 2d 195, 436 P.2d 230 (1968); Graham v. Street, 2 Utah 2d 144, 270 P.2d 456 (1954).

. Glenn v. Player, 7 Utah 2d 428, 326 P.2d 717 (J 958); Weyant v. Murphy, 78 Cal. 278, 20 P. 568 (1889); Kelley v. Clark, 23 Idaho 1, 129 P. 921 (1913); Hall v. Lommasson, 113 Mont. 272, 124 P.2d 694 (1942); Winthrop v. Huntington, 3 Ohio 327; Dickerson v. Murfield, 173 Or. 662, 147 P.2d 194 (1944).

. Gibson v. River Farms Co., 49 Cal.App.2d 278, 121 P.2d 504 (1942); Roshek Realty Co. v. Roshek Bros. Co., 249 Iowa 349, 87 N.W.2d 8 (1957); Johnston v. Gilbert, 234 Or. 350, 382 P.2d 87 (1963).

. Kam Chin Chun Ming v. Kam Hee Ho, 45 Haw. 521, 371 P.2d 379 (1962); Sjulin v. Clifton Furniture Co., 241 Iowa 761, 41 N.W.2d 721 (1950); York v. Cole, 254 N.C. 224, 118 S.E.2d 419 (1961).

. See Livingston v. Woodworth, 15 How. 546, 14 L.Ed. 809 (1853); Given v. United Fuel Gas Co., 84 W.Va. 301, 99 S.E. 476 (1919); Superior Constr. Co. v. Elmo, 204 Md. 1, 104 A.2d 581 (1954); Bush v. Gaffney (Tex.Civ.App.), 84 S.W.2d 759 (1935).