Abrams v. Mike Salta Pontiac, Inc.

Plaintiff, a customer of defendant, brought this action alleging in separate counts that defendant breached its contract with plaintiff and violated the Unlawful Trade Practices Act (ORS 646.605 et seq.) in its dealings with plaintiff. The jury’s special verdict awarded plaintiff compensatory damages on both counts and punitive damages on the Unlawful Trade Practices count. Pursuant to defendant’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, the trial court struck the award of punitive damages. Plaintiff appeals, contending that the trial court erred by so doing. We agree and reverse the…