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Puent v. Dickens

Supreme Court of Virginia
Feb 26, 1993
245 Va. 217 (Va. 1993)

Summary

finding allegations insufficient to support claim for willful and wanton negligence where the defendant had a 0.24% BAC, exceeded the speed limit and attempted to flee the scene of the accident

Summary of this case from McCann v. Everette

Opinion

48428 Record No. 920819

February 26, 1993

Present: All the Justices

In this automobile accident case the trial court correctly held that the proffered evidence did not create a factual basis sufficient to permit an award of punitive damages against a drunken driver and that holding is affirmed. A plea of guilty to reckless driving will not suffice by itself to establish a claim for punitive damages. Evidence of the defendant's intoxication is not admissible when the only factual issue before a jury is that of the quantum of compensatory damages.

Torts — Negligence — Damages — Compensatory — Punitive — Intoxication of Drivers — Evidence

The defendant was driving a pickup truck and had had several drinks when he ran into the rear of a car in which the plaintiff was driving. The defendant admitted liability for compensatory damages but asked that the trial court strike the evidence supporting the claim for punitive damages. The court sustained the defendant's motions to strike the plaintiff's claim for punitive damages and to exclude any evidence of the defendant's intoxication from consideration by the jury. The plaintiff appeals both adverse rulings.

1. In order to create an issue of punitive damages where misconduct or malice has not been shown, a plaintiff must show that the defendant's conduct was of such recklessness or negligence as evinces a conscious disregard of the rights of others.

2. Here, although a jury could have found that the defendant was drunk, going very fast, did not attempt to stop before striking the rear of the car, and attempted to leave the scene of the collision, these combined factors are insufficient to justify a finding of the wanton negligence necessary for an award of punitive damages.

3. Whether conduct complained of was sufficient to justify an award of punitive damages must be determined by the facts and circumstances of each case, and the fact that the defendant pled guilty to reckless driving does not suffice to establish the plaintiff's case for punitive damages because the reckless driving definition is not used with reference to the law of torts.

4. The trial court did not err in excluding proof evidence of the defendant's intoxication from evidence in the trial limited to the issue of compensatory damages, because such evidence is not relevant to the determination of the quantum of compensatory damages and should not be admitted when that is the only issue before the jury.

Appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach. Hon. Jerome B. Friedman, judge presiding.

Affirmed.

Robert J. Haddad (Thomas B. Shuttleworth; Lisa P. O'Donnell; Shuttleworth, Ruloff, Giordano Kahle, on brief), for appellant.

Paul D. Fraim (Todd M. Fiorella; Heilig, McKenry, Fraim Lollar, on brief), for appellee.


In this automobile collision case, we decide whether the proffered evidence creates a factual basis sufficient to permit an award of punitive damages against a drunken driver. Additionally, we consider: (1) whether a plea of guilty to reckless driving will suffice to establish a claim for punitive damages; and (2) whether evidence of the defendant's intoxication is admissible when the only factual issue is that of the quantum of compensatory damages.

During the night of December 1, 1989, Edward W. Dickens, who was driving a pickup truck, ran into the rear of a car in which Anne R. Puent was a passenger. Puent sued Dickens to recover compensatory and punitive damages. In her motion for judgment, Puent alleged that Dickens had operated his vehicle while intoxicated, "evidenc[ing] a conscious disregard for the rights of the plaintiff."

Dickens admitted liability for compensatory damages. By agreement of the parties, evidence was proffered to the trial court by testimony and statements of counsel before empaneling a jury, so that the trial court could rule upon Dickens' motions to strike the evidence supporting the claim for punitive damages. After considering such evidence and proffers, as well as argument of counsel, the court sustained Dickens' motions to strike Puent's claim for punitive damages and to exclude any evidence of Dickens' intoxication from consideration by a jury.

Thereafter, the trial court entered final judgment against Dickens in the sum of $16,250, the stipulated amount of Puent's compensatory damages. Puent appeals both adverse rulings of the court.

Because the court struck Puent's evidence supporting her claim for punitive damages, we state the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to her claim. Dickens had three drinks from a bottle of bourbon within a period of an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes before the truck he was driving collided with the car in which Puent was a passenger. This car, which had stopped at a traffic light, had lighted brake and rear lights.

Jacqueline W. Peterson, the driver of another vehicle that Dickens passed just before striking the Puent vehicle, testified that Dickens' truck passed her "going very fast" and that "[n]o brake lights came on. There was no indication that he was stopping [before the collision]."

Dickens took a fourth drink as he sat in his truck just after the collision. Peterson, who is a nurse and who had stopped to render assistance to the injured Puent, testified that Dickens was drunk at the scene of the collision. Peterson also testified that Dickens looked as if he intended to leave the scene of the accident.

A short time after the accident, a test of Dickens' breath alcohol indicated that his blood alcohol content was 0.24% alcohol by weight, raising a presumption that he was intoxicated. Code Sec. 18.2-269(A) (3). Dickens later pleaded guilty to reckless driving at the time of the collision.

The parties agree that in order to create an issue of punitive damages where misconduct or malice has not been shown, a plaintiff must show that the defendant's conduct was of "such recklessness or negligence as evinces a conscious disregard of the rights of others." Baker v. Marcus, 201 Va. 905, 909, 114 S.E.2d 617, 621 (1960). They disagree whether the evidence in this case is sufficient to create a jury issue of Puent's entitlement to punitive damages under this standard.

Puent compares Dickens' 0.24% blood alcohol content with the defendant's blood alcohol content of 0.22% in Booth v. Robertson, 236 Va. 269, 271, 374 S.E.2d 1, 1 (1988), in which we held that a jury issue of punitive damages was created. However, as we point out in Huffman v. Love, 245 Va. 311, 427 S.E.2d 357 (1993), decided this day, intoxication alone did not establish a case for punitive damages in Booth; other acts of negligence that were direct causes of the collision must also be considered.

And here, except for Dickens' higher level of intoxication, his carrying an open liquor bottle in his vehicle and continuing to drink after the accident, and his apparent efforts to leave the scene of the accident, we have a case similar to the rear-end collision in Baker, in which we reversed an award of punitive damages. 201 Va. at 910-11, 114 S.E.2d at 621-22. Indeed, Dickens' negligent and reprehensible conduct did not approach that degree of negligence exhibited in Booth, Huffman, or Hack v. Nester, 241 Va. 499, 404 S.E.2d 42 (1991).

Although we held the evidence sufficient to create a factual issue of punitive damages in Booth and Huffman, we held the evidence insufficient in Hack to justify an award of punitive damages against a drunken driver. Id. at 507, 401 S.E.2d at 45. The intoxicated defendant in Hack (with two prior drunk driving convictions), who allegedly suffered from "night blindness," and who was operating a car at night without a left headlight, collided head-on in a curve with an approaching vehicle in its lane of travel. 241 Va. at 506, 404 S.E.2d at 45.

Here, a jury could have found that Dickens was drunk, that he was "going very fast," that he did not attempt to stop before striking the rear of Puent's car, and that he attempted to leave the scene of the collision. However, in our opinion, these combined factors are insufficient to justify a finding of the wanton negligence necessary for an award of punitive damages.

Nor does the fact that Dickens pled guilty to reckless driving suffice to establish Puent's case for punitive damages, as she argues. The definition of reckless driving in the motor vehicle code "is not used with reference to the law of torts." Morris v. Dame, 161 Va. 545, 569, 171 S.E. 662, 671 (1933). Therefore, whether the conduct complained of was sufficient to justify an award of punitive damages must be determined by the facts and circumstances of each case. Id. at 569-70, 171 S.E. at 671.

Finally, we consider whether the court erred in excluding evidence of Dickens' intoxication in the subsequent trial that was limited to the issue of compensatory damages. Such evidence is not relevant to the determination of the quantum of compensatory damages and should not be admitted when that is the only issue before the jury. Eubank v. Spencer, 203 Va. 923, 927, 128 S.E.2d 299, 302 (1962). Hence, the court correctly excluded that evidence.

For the reasons stated herein, we will affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Affirmed.

JUSTICE COMPTON concurs in the result.


I believe that reasonable persons could disagree whether Dickens's conduct was so willful or wanton that it showed a conscious disregard for the rights of others. Therefore, I would hold that the question of punitive damages was a matter for a jury's consideration and that the trial court erred in concluding otherwise. See Huffman v. Love, 245 Va. 311, 427 S.E.2d 357 (1993) (this day decided).

Since I disagree with the majority on the above issue, I would not reach the subsequent issue regarding compensatory damages.


Summaries of

Puent v. Dickens

Supreme Court of Virginia
Feb 26, 1993
245 Va. 217 (Va. 1993)

finding allegations insufficient to support claim for willful and wanton negligence where the defendant had a 0.24% BAC, exceeded the speed limit and attempted to flee the scene of the accident

Summary of this case from McCann v. Everette

affirming a trial court's decision that the defendant's conduct was not willful or wanton as a matter of law where the defendant was speeding, did not apply the brakes before hitting the plaintiff, had a BAC of 0.24%, and attempted to leave the scene of the accident

Summary of this case from Laporsek v. Burress

sustaining trial court's decision to strike claim for punitive damages despite evidence that defendant was drinking immediately before and after the collision, was going very fast, did not attempt to stop before "read-ending" the plaintiff, and attempted to leave the scene of the accident

Summary of this case from Jones v. Miller

In Puent v. Dickens, 427 S.E.2d 340, 341-42 (Va. 1993), an intoxicated man driving a pickup truck "very fast" rear-ended another vehicle after not attempting to stop, causing injuries to a passenger in the vehicle he struck.

Summary of this case from Madison v. Acuna

stating evidence of a defendant's intoxication is not relevant to the determination of compensatory damages and should not be admitted when that is the only issue before the jury

Summary of this case from Zander v. Morsette

In Puent v. Dickens, 245 Va. 217, 427 S.E.2d 340 (1993), the Court held the evidence was insufficient to permit an award of punitive damages.

Summary of this case from Doe v. Isaacs

In Puent, Edward W. Dickens, who was operating a pickup truck, collided with the rear of a car in which Anne R. Puent was a passenger.

Summary of this case from Webb v. Rivers

In Puent, we observed that "in order to create an issue of punitive damages where misconduct or malice has not been shown, a plaintiff must show that the defendant's conduct was of `such recklessness or negligence as evinces a conscious disregard of the rights of others.'"

Summary of this case from Webb v. Rivers
Case details for

Puent v. Dickens

Case Details

Full title:ANNE R. PUENT v. EDWARD W. DICKENS

Court:Supreme Court of Virginia

Date published: Feb 26, 1993

Citations

245 Va. 217 (Va. 1993)
427 S.E.2d 340

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