State v. Singer

¶ 1. This case concerns the calculation of a damage award flowing from a jury verdict finding defendant liable for the unauthorized cutting of trees under Vermont’s timber trespass statute, 13 V.S.A § 3606. On appeal, defendant challenges the jury’s award of punitive damages, and the State cross-appeals to challenge the court’s jury instructions on how to calculate damages under § 3606. We reject the trial court’s method of calculating damages under § 3606 and, as a result, hold that the State should have received treble damages under that statute. We also hold that punitive damages are…