Court Opinion

ID: 9560938
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:59:39.109502+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:21.552663
License: Public Domain

SWANSTROM, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion regarding the punitive damage award, and fees on appeal. Although I agree with the majority’s analysis of the case law of punitive damages, I do not believe that the conduct of Citadel amounted to such an extreme deviation from the usual standard of conduct in a business transaction as to support an award of punitive damages. In my view, Citadel’s actions were not outrageous or malicious, even though Citadel breached the contract. A simple breach of contract does not warrant the imposition of punitive damages. Accordingly, I would reverse the order of the district court denying the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict as to the punitive damages award and would not award attorney fees or costs on appeal to Cuddy Mountain.