Ricci v. Thompson

THREADGILL, Judge.

Michael and Elizabeth Ricci, plaintiffs in an automobile negligence action, appeal various rulings of the trial court issued before and during the jury trial. We find that the court erred in dismissing the claim for punitive damages against Appellee Ivan Glenn Thompson, the driver of the other automobile, and remand for a new trial on this issue.

On October 1, 1981, Thompson, while driving a 1971 Chevrolet owned by Appel-lees Rudolph and Alice Back, struck the rear of the Ricci vehicle which was properly stopped at a traffic signal. Thompson had a blood alcohol content of .33…