Smith v. Brown-Forman Distillers Corp.

Defendants appeal from a judgment on special verdict in favor of plaintiff and against defendant Brown-Forman Distillers Corporation (Brown-Forman) for $230,562 compensatory damages plus $250,000 punitive damages upon findings that plaintiff resigned from employment with Brown-Forman as a result of defendant’s requirement that he commit a crime as a condition of employment. On appeal from the judgment, Brown-Forman challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury’s findings on liability and damages, and claims the court erred in instructing the jury on constructive wrongful discharge and in admitting evidence.

Facts

In February 1984 plaintiff filed a complaint for damages against defendants asserting, inter aha, claims for constructive wrongful discharge from employment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. After a lengthy jury trial, the jury rendered a special verdict finding that defendants required plaintiff to commit a crime as a condition of his employment; that plaintiff resigned as a result of the requirement that he commit a crime; that plaintiff suffered damages of $230,562 as a proximate result of his constructive discharge; and…