Zimmer v. Belden

Michael Zimmer (Plaintiff) sued William Belden and Belden Logging, LLC (Defendants) for statutory and common law trespass. The petition alleged that Defendants had cut logs on Plaintiffs land without his permission. Defendants admitted liability, and a jury trial was held to assess damages. The jury returned two unanimous verdicts for Plaintiff. On the statutory trespass count, Plaintiff was awarded $10,000. On the common law trespass count, Plaintiff was awarded $6,812.50 in actual damages and $3,817.50 in punitive damages.

Thereafter, Defendants filed a timely motion for new trial and…