Alfa Mut. Ins. Co. v. Northington

Walter L. Northington and his wife, Sue, sued Alfa Mutual Insurance Company ("Alfa"), alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress (outrage) and a wrongful/bad faith failure to renew a policy of insurance. The trial court directed a verdict for Alfa on the outrage claim. The claim alleging wrongful/bad faith nonrenewal of the insurance policy went to the jury. The jury awarded the Northingtons $50,000 each in compensatory damages and $750,000 in punitive damages, for a total verdict of $850,000. Alfa then moved, in the alternative, for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, a new…