Berryhill v. Hatt

McGIVERIN, Chief Justice.

The contractual relationship underlying this dispute involves a real estate lease and sale contract between defendant John A. Hatt, as lessor-seller, and plaintiffs Patrick Berryhill and Thomas Popa, as lessee-buyers.

In a law action plaintiffs asserted that defendant Hatt breached the contract and was subsequently liable for abuse of process in trying to get them to leave the leased premises. The trial court jury agreed and assessed compensatory and punitive damages against Hatt on both the abuse of process and breach of contract claims. Judgment was entered on the…