State ex rel. Deering v. Corcoran

DOWD, Judge.

We granted a provisional writ of prohibition to prevent respondent circuit judge from striking a claim for punitive damages in a case brought by a former employee against his former employer under the service letter statute, § 290.140, RSMo 1978.1 *229The issue is whether the 1982 amendment to this statute precludes punitive damages in a suit pending before the effective date of the amendment. We hold that it does not.

The relevant facts are as follows: Relator was employed by Smith & Davis Manufacturing Company from January 15, 1979, to July 26,1980. He requested a service letter on…