J. F. Equipment, Inc. v. Owatonna Manufacturing Co.

The plaintiff, a dealer of light construction equipment, sued the manufacturer of the equipment and a competing dealer in a two-count complaint. Count I was for breach of the plaintiff’s dealership contract with the manufacturer, and count II was for conspiracy to breach the dealership contract. The competitor settled its claims with plaintiff for $7,500 before trial. The jury found the manufacturer guilty of conspiracy (count II) to breach a contract, but made no finding as to count I. The jury awarded $64,000 compensatory damages and $159,000 punitive damages. The trial court entered…