Atkins Ford Sales, Inc. v. Royster

Paul Royster sued Charles Atkins and Atkins Ford Sales, Inc., based upon alleged defamatory statements. The jury awarded Royster $100,000 in compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages. The court entered a judgment on that verdict. The defendants moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) or a new trial, or, in the alternative, for a remittitur. The circuit court denied the motion, and the defendants appealed.

Although the testimony in this case conflicted at times, the evidence tended to show the following: Paul Royster was employed in the tractor parts department at…