Canton v. Hauge

Plaintiff appeals from a trial judge’s order setting aside a judgment for plaintiff in a wrongful death case. He also appeals the judge’s ruling sustaining defendants’ motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages. We reinstate the judgment and remand for a new trial limited to punitive damages.

In August, 1981, Joe Hauge and his 20 year-old brother David met decedent, William Canton, at the Hauge residence in Portland. Having obtained permission to use his father’s car, Joe drove David and decedent to a store, where they purchased two twelve-packs of beer. En route to…