Riverside Insurance v. Pedigo

MILLER, Presiding Judge.

Appellant-defendant, Riverside Insurance Company, is appealing from a jury verdict against it for $51,000 in compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages. The award was based on Riverside’s failure to pay, pursuant to its policy, for damages sustained by Roger D. Pedigo and Linda I. Pedigo, husband and wife, when their home was totally destroyed by fire.

The issues raised by Riverside on appeal concern:

1) the failure of the trial court to instruct the jury specifically on Riverside’s defense of fraud and false swearing;

2) with respect to compensatory damages, an…