Baker

*221 Opinion

INTRODUCTION

Respondent and plaintiff Ken R. Baker sued Theresa Castaldi 1 and appellant Alfonse Castaldi for allegedly stealing antiques he owned. Plaintiff 2 sought punitive damages. Trial proceeded to a first phase 3 4 on March 25, 2013, and a punitive damages calculation phase on August 6, 2013. The first phase dealt with liability, compensatory damages and whether plaintiff was entitled to punitive damages. The second phase dealt with the calculation of the punitive damages.

After the first phase completed, the court found both Theresa and Alfonse jointly and severally liable for conversion. On May 20, 2013, months before the punitive damages phase began, a document entitled “judgment” was filed. The “judgment” indicated that judgment was against both defendants, jointly and severally, and set forth $610,500 in compensatory damages plus interest and costs. The “judgment” went on to state that the court “finds by a preponderance of the evidence^ that both defendants Alfonse Castaldi and Theresa Castaldi have acted with malice and with oppression toward plaintiff Ken Baker warranting an award of punitive damages to be assessed at a separate trial. . .…