Liberty Nat. Life Ins. Co. v. Caddell

In November 1994, Michael L. Caddell sued Liberty National Life Insurance Company, alleging a breach of contract, conversion, and fraud and requesting compensatory and punitive damages. The trial court dismissed the breach of contract and fraud claims; only the conversion claim was presented to the jury. Liberty National filed motions for a directed verdict at the close of Caddell's evidence and at the close of its own evidence, both of which the trial court denied. The jury returned a verdict for Caddell and awarded him $50,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.…