Court Declines to Hold Separate Hearing on Punitive Damages

WILMINGTON, Del. - A Delaware Superior Court judge has denied a defendant landlord's motion to order a separate trial on an office tenant's punitive damages claim, saying a separate hearing would prolong an upcoming trial that is already expected to last two to three weeks. Brandt v. Rokeby Realty Co., No. 97C-10-132-RFS (Del. Super. Ct., New Castle Cty.).

Judge Richard F. Stokes also ruled Aug. 3 on a series of motions in limine rejecting efforts to limit or exclude testimony by two experts for plaintiffs, but agreeing with defendants that plaintiffs cannot refer to "sick building syndrome" in presenting their …