Chevalier v. Dubin

Opinion

WONG, J. *

This is an appeal from a judgment in an assault and battery case, awarding respondent $27,500 in compensatory damages and $75,000 in punitive damages. The verdict of the jury was for $27,500 in compensatory damages and $150,000 in punitive damages, but the court granted a motion for a new trial unless respondent would remit $75,000 of the punitive damage award. Respondent then filed a remittitur consenting to the reduction.

At the trial, respondent, a school teacher, testified that appellant Harry Dubin struck him on the nose with a pair of channel lock pliers in an unprovoked…