United States Fourth Circuit

In a breach of contract action, the award of punitive damages is reversed where defendant's conduct was not willful or in reckless disregard of plaintiff's rights under the contract.

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/26/2005
• Published 01/26/2005

Judges

• Before WIDENER, NIEMEYER, and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Thornwell Forrest Sowell, III, Sowell, Gray, Stepp & Laffitte, L.L.C., Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellant.  John Frank Hardaway, Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Allen Jackson Barnes, Sowell, Gray, Stepp & Laffitte, L.L.C., Columbia, South Carolina;  Scott Seelhoff, Howell, Gibson and Hughes, Beaufort, South Carolina, for Appellant.  Robert A. Muckenfuss, McNair Law Firm, P.A., Columbia, South Carolina, for Appellee.