Geressy v. Digital Equipment Corp.

MEMORANDUM ON THE JURY CHARGE ON PUNITIVE DAMAGES

WEINSTEIN, Senior District Judge:

I. Introduction

Both defendant and plaintiffs seek post-verdict relief. In this memorandum, only the punitive damage issue is addressed. Over the course of almost four weeks, a jury heard evidence and arguments in a case involving three plaintiffs who had allegedly suffered from repetitive stress injuries as a result of using defendant’s computer equipment. Defective design and failure to warn were the bases for the suit. Their spouses filed independent loss of consortium claims.

The case was divided into two…