Litchfield Ex Rel. Litchfield v. May Department Stores Co.

GRIMM, Judge.

In this jury-tried negligence case, plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages. Plaintiff, 5 years old at the time of this incident, was injured when a display bookcase or entertainment center, positioned on a 6-inch pedestal, fell on him at one of defendant’s Venture stores. The incident occurred as plaintiff was attempting to open the doors of the display.

At the close of plaintiff’s evidence, the trial court sustained defendant’s motion for directed verdict on the claim for punitive damages. The jury awarded plaintiff $200,000 compensatory damages. Thereafter, upon…