Hammerly Oaks, Inc. v. Edwards

The sole point of controversy in this case is the award of punitive damages. In Texas, a corporation may be liable for exemplary damages if it committed gross negligence through the actions or inactions of a vice principal. The court of appeals held that there was some evidence that the leasing agent of a corporate owner of an apartment complex was a vice principal and accordingly modified the trial court’s judgment which had disregarded the gross negligence and punitive damages findings. Edwards v. Hammerly Oaks, Inc., 908 S.W.2d 270 (Tex.App.—Hous.[1st Dist]1995). We hold that under the…