Kenney v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

WILLIAM RAY PRICE, JR., Judge.

I

Wal-Mart Stores appeals a verdict entered against it awarding Carolyn Kenney $33,750 in actual damages and $392,083 in punitive damages. The Court finds that the trial court erred in submitting a materially altered verdict director. The judgment is reversed and the case is remanded.

II

A. Background

Carolyn Kenney is the grandmother of Lauren Kenney, a minor child, and the mother of Lauren’s father, Christopher. Chris Kenney and Lauren’s mother, Angela Miles (now Angela Mueller), were never married and had not sought a formal declaration of visitation rights. Chris…