Ondirsek, et al. v. Hoffman, No. 11-3003 (8th Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CaseDefendant appealed a jury verdict finding him liable for battery, outrage, and conspiracy. Defendant was the leader of a religious group, Tony Alamo Christian Ministries (TACM), where he controlled members' finances, prohibited them from traveling or speaking to outsiders unless it was to witness, and prohibited children from attending public schools, watching television, or listening to the radio. Plaintiffs were raised in TACM. The court affirmed the judgment of the district court in all regards except that the punitive damages award was reversed and remanded to the district court for entry of a verdict imposing $12 million in punitive damages for each plaintiff.
Court Description: Civil case - Torts. Any error in instructing the jury on the Arkansas offense of battery was harmless; $3 million award for abuse suffered while the plaintiffs were minors held in Tony Alamo's compound was not excessive; an award of punitive damages was justified both as punishment for Alamo's actions and to deter others, but the amount of the award - $30 million to each plaintiff - exceeds constitutional limits and must be reduced to $12 million for each plaintiff.
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