Riddle v. Pitts

Ness, Justice:

In this action for fraud in the sale of an automobile, appellant Pitts appeals from a jury verdict of $13,000 actual damages and $3,000 punitive damages which was reduced by the trial judge to $8,000 actual damages and $3,000 punitive damages.

Section 56-15-110 of the 1976 S. C. Code of Laws mandates double recovery of actual damages and permits punitive damages up to three times actual damages for a willful violation. We affirm the $3,000 award of punitive damages but reduce actual damages to $2,000.

Appellant first alleges the trial judge erred in failing to bind respondent to…