Calif. Appellate Court Affirms $4.5 Million Award Against ArvinMeritor

SAN FRANCISCO -- A California appellate court has upheld a punitive damage award of $4.5 million against asbestos defendant ArvinMeritor, finding that the jury's award was not "so disproportionate to ArvinMeritor's ability to pay as to lead ineluctably to the conclusion that the award resulted from passion or prejudice." Bankhead, et al. v. ArvinMeritor Inc., et al., No. A131587 & A 132985 (Calif. Ct. App., 1st Dist., Div. 4).

In the April 19 opinion, the California First District Court of Appeal said that the jury's finding was supported by evidence that the amount of the verdict was necessary to punish …