Matthews v. Rodgers

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

This appeal raises questions about an alleged implied bias of the trial judge and his award of compensatory and punitive damages to the victim oían intentional tort. We affirm the judgment. Jurisdiction over this torteaseis in this Court pursuant to Rule 29(1) (o).

The case was tried before the court sitting as a j ury. The facts surrounding the intentional tort are in dispute but the testimony may be summarized as follows. The appellee, plaintiff Michael Rodgers, testified that on June 30, 1979, he, his wife, and a friend, John Martin Smith, were unarmed and in their…