Ausley v. Bishop

THOMAS, Judge.

The parties are before this Court for the second time in an action involving breach of contract and claims for compensatory and punitive damages based on slander.

The jury awarded defendant, Bryan M. Bishop, $2,500.00 in his counterclaim for breach of contract against plaintiff, Andrew H. Ausley, d/b/a Ausley Appraisal Services. The jury also agreed with defendant as to two counts of slander and awarded him a combined $14,500.00 in compensatory damages and $85,000.00 in punitive damages. In a separate proceeding, defendant was then awarded $35,000.00 in attorneys’ fees.

Plaintiff…