Goin v. Premo

Julius J. Olson, Justice.

Action was brought to recover compensatory and punitive damages for an alleged wilful, wanton, and malicious assault. The answer was a general denial and self-defense. Plaintiff recovered a verdict for “his damages at $2,000 and punitive damages in accordance with Minnesota statutes.” The -form of the verdict as to punitive damages, as explained by the trial judge in his memorandum, is that plaintiff’s counsel in his closing argument had told the jury that the law permitted treble damages as punishment if the assault was wanton and malicious. The court denied…