Fred Collins v. Straight, Inc., a Florida Corp., Licensed to Do Business in the State of Virginia

CHAPMAN, Circuit Judge:

In this diversity of citizenship case, Straight, Inc. appeals a jury verdict of $40,-000 in compensatory and $180,000 in punitive damages awarded to plaintiff Fred Collins on a false imprisonment cause of action. Finding that the evidence was sufficient for the jury to conclude that the plaintiff had been falsely imprisoned, that the jury was properly instructed concerning the applicable law and that the district court did not abuse its discretion in its ruling on certain questions of trial procedure, we affirm.

I

Collins entered the Straight drug treatment facility in…