California Court of Appeal affirms $4 in punitive damages, declines to reinstate jury’s $20 million award (Casey v. Kaiser Gypsum)

Last week the California Court of Appeal (First District, Division Four) issued this unpublished opinion affirming a punitive damages award just under $4 million.  The jury in this asbestos case originally awarded $20 million in punitive damages, which the trial court reduced in response to the defendant’s post-trial motions.  Both parties appealed and the Court of Appeal affirmed across the board, rejecting the defendant’s request for a new trial and rejecting the plaintiff’s request to restore the jury’s $20 million award.

We won’t comment on the court’s analysis because our firm represents the defendant.