John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance v. Zalay

THREADGILL, Judge.

We reverse the judgment for punitive and compensatory damages entered in favor of Clifford Zalay (Zalay), the plaintiff, and against the defendants, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company (John Hancock) and Edward Dooley (Dooley). Despite having directed a verdict in favor of John Hancock on the issue of respondeat superior, the trial court reversed this ruling after the defense case had been substantially presented, and allowed the jury to consider the issue. The court, however, refused to allow the defendants to present additional testimony on this issue, and we find…