Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Nov 30, 2020
LARRY DWAYNE ORMSBY, Appellant vs. CENTRAL MINE EQUIPMENT CO., Respondent
Dewayne Ormsby sued Central Mine Equipment Co. for strict liability after sustaining a hand injury from a drill rig. The trial court entered judgment for CME after the jury found Ormsby 100% at fault and the court found no submissible punitive damages case. Ormsby appealed, arguing the trial court erred in admitting evidence related to the rig's 1976 sale and the absence of similar accidents. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the challenged evidence was relevant to Ormsby's punitive damages claim at the time it was offered and admitted.