Appellate Court Affirms Directed Verdict on Punitive Damages

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A North Carolina appellate court has affirmed a directed verdict on punitive damages, reasoning that the destroyed memorandum presented by the plaintiffs in opposition of the directed verdict did not necessarily result in the plaintiffs' alleged injuries. Schenk v. HNA Holdings, et al., No. 98 CVS 2489; Bell v. HNA Holdings, Inc., No. 99 CVS 223 (N.C. Ct. App.).

The June 7 opinion by the North Carolina Court of Appeals also upheld the trial court's reduction of jury awards to the plaintiffs after factoring set-offs for prior settlements.

Plaintiffs Gary Ray Schenk Sr. and Donald Lee Bell …