In Weatherford U.S., L.P. v. United States Department of Labor, No. 21-3017 (6th Cir. May 24, 2023), the Sixth Circuit holds that – following federal common law – a punitive damage award entered by an administrative law judge Surface Transportation Assistance Act does not survive the death of the claimant. “Daniel Ayres brought an administrativeContinue reading “Under Federal Common Law, Punitive Damage Award Under Surface Transportation Assistance Act Abates with the Death of the Claimant, Holds Sixth Circuit”
Tag Archives: Punitive Damages
Split Fourth Circuit Panel Holds That District Court Did Not Err by Admitting Evidence of Parent Companies’ Net Worth in Liability Phase of Nuisance Trial
In McKiver v. Murphy-Brown, LLC, No. 19-1019 (4th Cir. Nov. 19, 2020) – a closely-watched case against an industrial hog farm for common-law nuisance – a split panel affirms liability, though it remands the punitive damage award for redetermination. In addition to deciding Daubert challenges to the experts and other issues (not otherwise addressed here),Continue reading “Split Fourth Circuit Panel Holds That District Court Did Not Err by Admitting Evidence of Parent Companies’ Net Worth in Liability Phase of Nuisance Trial”
New Trial of Punitive Damages in Tobacco Case Does Not Necessitate Retrying Liability or Compensatory Damages from First Trial, Eleventh Circuit Holds.
In Sowers v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., No. 18-11901 (11th Cir. Sept. 15, 2020), where the defendant did not dispute that the plaintiff was erroneously denied a punitive-damage trial, the court holds that the Seventh Amendment Reexamination Clause does not command a retrial of liability. Sowers is an “Engle progeny” action, a case emerging fromContinue reading “New Trial of Punitive Damages in Tobacco Case Does Not Necessitate Retrying Liability or Compensatory Damages from First Trial, Eleventh Circuit Holds.”
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