Nienstedt v. Wetzel

OPINION

HAIRE, Judge.

Appellees, Philip R. and Barbara Nien-stedt, husband and wife, commenced this action in Maricopa County Superior Court to recover damages allegedly sustained as a result of abuse of process by appellants Manfred R. and Nancy Wetzel, husband and wife, in prior litigation between the parties. A jury verdict awarded the Nienstedts $7,350 as compensatory damages and $50,-000 as punitive damages. The Wetzels have appealed from the judgment entered on that verdict.

Although several issues have been raised on appeal, we will first address appellants’ contentions concerning the…