Hackleton v. Larkan

Robert L. Brown, Justice.

Appellant Ronnie Hackleton appeals and asserts trial court error in its assessment of double damages against him for fire damage to appellee Johnny Larkan’s trees. We agree that error was committed, and we modify the judgment amount to correspond with the jury verdict of single damages.

On April 13, 1994, Johnny Larkan filed a complaint seeking damages for his trees that were destroyed as a result of the alleged negligence of Ronnie Hackleton in starting, supervising, controlling, and extinguishing a fire on Hackleton’s property that spread to Larkan’s land. Larkan,…