Friendship Auto Sales, Inc. v. Bank of Willamette Valley

The issue is: Did the trial court commit error when it entered a judgment for the defendant notwithstanding a jury verdict for the plaintiff for $84,000 punitive damages? We hold that the trial court did commit error. We reverse and remand to reinstate judgment on the verdict for the plaintiff.

Although after verdict the plaintiff is entitled to have the facts reviewed in a light most favorable to it, the direct evidence in this case is for the most part undisputed. During 1981 the plaintiff, Friendship Auto Sales, Inc., was engaged in the used car business in Dallas, Polk County, Oregon. It…