Legal Opinion
Bolsta v. Johnson
Supreme Court of Vermont
Decided March 4, 2004No. 03-004PublishedCited by 10 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
¶ 1. Appellant Sarah Bolsta appeals the trial court’s denial of a punitive damages award in her personal injury action based upon a motor vehicle collision caused by a drunk driver, Michael Johnson. We agree that the actions of the driver do not constitute the kind of malicious, intentional acts that punitive damages are designed to address, and therefore, we affirm.
¶ 2. The accident occurred in September 1999. Johnson failed to stop at an intersection controlled by a stop sign, causing a collision with appellant’s oncoming vehicle. Appellant’s car was totaled, and she suffered several…
2Cases cited25 opinions
- Owens-Illinois, Inc. v. ZenobiaCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1992
- Taylor v. Superior CourtCalifornia Supreme Court · 1979
- Focht v. RabadaSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1970
- Brueckner v. Norwich UniversitySupreme Court of Vermont · 1999
- Baker v. MarcusSupreme Court of Virginia · 1960
20 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by10 opinions
- Fly Fish Vermont, Inc. v. Chapin Hill Estates, Inc.Supreme Court of Vermont · 2010
- Kneebinding, Inc., John Springer-Miller, Tina Springer-Miller and ACL Investments, LLC v. Richard HowellSupreme Court of Vermont · 2018
- Birchwood Land Company, Inc. v. Ormond Bushey & Sons, Inc.Supreme Court of Vermont · 2013
- DeYoung v. RuggerioSupreme Court of Vermont · 2009
- Drake ex rel. J.D. v. Allergan, Inc.District Court, D. Vermont · 2015
5 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.