Barker v. Benefit Trust Life Ins. Co.

McHUGH, Chief Justice:

This action is before this Court upon the appeal of Benefit Trust Life Insurance Company, the appellant and defendant below, from a final order of the Circuit Court of Braxton County, West Virginia, in which that court awarded Fred B. Barker, the appellee and plaintiff below, compensatory damages in the amount of $8,500 upon a claim of libel; reimbursement for hospital and physician expenses under a medical insurance policy; and, $12,500 in punitive damages for the failure of the appellant to reimburse the appellee under a medical insurance policy for hospital and…