Dippel v. Taco Bell Corp.

SNYDER, Judge.

Clay W. Dippel (employee) sued his former employer Taco Bell Corp. alleging violation of § 290.140 RSMo. 1978, the service letter statute. The jury returned a verdict awarding employee $10,000.00 compensatory and $50,000.00 punitive damages. After various post-trial motions, the trial court left intact the award of punitive damages, but set aside the compensatory damages and awarded, instead, $1.00 nominal damages. Taco Bell appeals, challenging only the award of punitive damages. The judgment for nominal damages is affirmed; the judgment for punitive damages is reversed.

In Taco…