Serra v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

OPINION

WEISBERGER, Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment in the Superior Court ordering the defendant to return an automobile to the plaintiff and to pay nominal compensatory and punitive damages. On appeal, the defendant challenges the trial justice’s findings concerning the possessory rights of the parties in respect to the automobile, his denial of the defendant’s midtrial motion to amend its answer to add a counterclaim, and his award of punitive damages. The facts that gave rise to the present controversy are as follows.

In January 1979 plaintiff, Matthew J. Serra (Serra), purchased a…