Los Amigos Supermarket, Inc. v. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co.

Following trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of third-party plaintiff Ernesto A. Avina (Avina) and against third-party defendant Ray O. Rodriguez (Rodriguez), in Avina’s action for fraud. The jury assessed compensatory damages in the amount of $183,024 and punitive damages in the amount of $450,000. Rodriguez filed a posttrial motion seeking, alternatively, a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (judgment n.o.v.), a new trial, or a remittitur of the compensatory and punitive damages. The trial court remitted the punitive damages to $180,000 but denied the remainder of the motion.…