Eckis v. Sea World Corp.

Opinion

AULT, J.

Defendants Sea World and Kent Burgess have appealed from a judgment entered on a jury verdict awarding Anne E. Eckis $75,000 in compensatory damages. Plaintiff had sought both compensatory and punitive damages for personal injuries she sustained while riding “Shamu the Whale,” framing her complaint on three theories: fraud, negligence, and liability for an animal with vicious or dangerous propensities. Before the case was submitted to the jury, the trial court denied Sea World’s motion for a nonsuit on the fraud cause of action. Later its motions for judgment notwithstanding…