Pringle Tax Service, Inc. v. Knoblauch

McCORMICK, Justice.

The question here is whether exemplary damages may be awarded when actual damages have been sustained but not computed or awarded. The trial court held they may be, and we affirm.

Plaintiff Pringle Tax Service, Inc., bought Carroll Copy Center, a printing and duplicating business in Carroll, from defendant Charles E. Knoblauch in May 1976. The sale agreement included a covenant not to compete in which defendant promised not to own, operate or manage any printing business or direct mail service in Carroll County for a period of five years from the date of the agreement.

The…