Life Ins. Co. of Mississippi v. Allen

518 So.2d 1189 (1987)

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF MISSISSIPPI

v.

Isom D. (Buddy) ALLEN.

No. 55583.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

December 16, 1987.

Rehearing Denied February 10, 1988.

Earl Keyes, W. Richard Johnson, Keyes, Moss, Piazza & Woods, Jackson, for appellant.

Eddie H. Bowen, Raleigh, for appellee.

Before ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., DAN M. LEE, P.J., and ROBERTSON, J.

ROBERTSON, Justice, for the Court:

I

Today's case presents a modest variation on a theme by Veal,[1] modest in the sense that the jury assessed an insurer only $20,000.00 in punitive damages for its grossly neglectful denial of a legitimate…