Court Opinion

ID: 9884776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 03:11:13.893633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:40.559147
License: Public Domain

HUSPENI, Judge
(dissenting in part).
I respectfully dissent as to the first issue only and conclude that the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury on the proper burden of proof for punitive damages compels a new trial.
I submit that the majority is making a determination regarding the weight to be given evidence that only a jury should make. This jury was not given an opportunity to decide properly the punitive damages issue. It was not informed that the burden of proof for those damages was higher than the burden of proof which was applicable to other issues in the case.
Neither can I distinguish this matter from Hield v. Thyberg, 347 N.W.2d 503 (Minn.1984). In that case the supreme court reversed and remanded for a new trial, ruling that the trial court properly allowed the plaintiff to introduce parol evidence but erred in requiring that the plaintiff only prove his case by a preponderance rather than by clear and convincing evidence.
Appellant’s acts were harsh and inappropriate. However, I am unable to conclude as a matter of law that the clear and convincing burden of proof for punitive damages has been met. The jury should decide that issue. See Wallinga v. Johnson, 269 Minn. 436, 131 N.W.2d 216 (1964).