Goodbody & Co., Inc. v. Parente

This civil action for damages stems from the defendant’s refusal to surrender to his stockbroker, Goodbody & Co. (Goodbody), 1 700 shares of the common stock of First Mortgage Investors (FMI). After a Superior Court jury returned a verdict for the defendant, the trial justice granted Goodbody’s motion for a directed verdict on which decision had been reserved, and judgment was then entered for it in the amount of $21,154. The defendant appealed, and the only issue is whether the trial justice erred in directing a verdict.

The essential facts are not in dispute. The defendant was a longtime…