OLee v. Compuware Corp.
Defendants Compuware Corporation (Compuware) and W. Alan Cantrell (Cantrell) appeal and plaintiffs Mary McCarthy OLee (McCarthy) and Aidan OLee (OLee) cross-appeal from a judgment following jury verdicts in favor of plaintiffs in their action for libel against defendants. The jury awarded OLee $550,000 and McCarthy $600,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million each in punitive damages. The trial court found the punitive damages award exceeded its constitutional maximum and reduced the punitive damages award to $1.65 million to OLee and $1.8 million McCarthy (three times the compensatory damages verdict).
Defendants contend that the evidence was insufficient to support the jurys finding of actual malice to defeat the common interest privilege; that the evidence of malice, oppression or fraud was insufficient to support any punitive damages award; and that the reduced punitive damages award was unconstitutionally excessive. On their cross-appeal, plaintiffs contend that the jurys punitive damages award of $5 million to each plaintiff was constitutional and that the trial court erred in reducing the award. Court affirm the judgment.
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