Peery v. Hanley

In this action to recover for intentional infliction of emotional distress and sexual harassment, defendant 1 appeals from a judgment incorporating a jury verdict that awarded plaintiff $20,000 in noneconomic damages and $120,000 in punitive damages. We address only the issues of whether plaintiff was required to offer medical testimony to establish a causal connection between defendant’s actions and plaintiffs symptoms, and whether the jury’s punitive damages award must be set aside on the ground that it impermissibly punishes free expression. We affirm.

Defendant is an orthopedic surgeon…