Goodwin v. Thomas

The question in this case is whether the appellant, John E. Goodwin, is entitled to the $25,000 in punitive damages awarded by a jury in his suit against the appellees, Harry R. Thomas and Clarence W. Moore, Jr. Goodwin now appeals from the November 9, 1989, order of the Circuit Court of Kanawha County setting aside the punitive damage award.-

Goodwin was the tenant in possession of a two-car garage located in West Charleston, West Virginia, out of which he operated an automobile repair business known as “John’s Body Shop,” pursuant to a lease dated July 18, 1974. 1 In the summer of 1976,…