Plaisance v. Yelder

Plaintiff Edward O. Plaisance brought suit against defendant Ivory Yelder for an alleged assault and battery inflicted upon him by Yelder in a fight which ensued following a collision between Plaisance's automobile and a Montgomery Ready Mix truck driven by Yelder. A jury verdict awarding Plaisance compensatory and punitive damages against Yelder is not at issue on appeal. Plaisance's claim against defendant Montgomery Ready Mix, Inc. was based on the doctrine of respondeat superior. At the close of Plaisance's case in chief, the trial court granted a directed verdict in favor of Montgomery…