Whittington v. Grand Valley Lakes, Inc.

OPINION

HENRY, Justice.

This is an action for trespass upon land wherein the jury returned a verdict for $1,500.00 compensatory and $2,500.00 punitive damages. The Court of Appeals held that the proof did not support an award of compensatory or punitive damages and remanded for the assessment of nominal damages. Essentially the question before us is the sufficiency of the evidence relating to compensatory damages, a necessary predicate for punitive damages.

I

In March, 1973, petitioner purchased an unimproved lot in respondent’s 4,500 lot subdivision located in Hardeman County for $3,500.00.…