Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Oct 3, 2024
TYLER PENDERGRAFT, Plaintiff-Respondent v. JAMES RHETT MASON and JACE MASON, Defendants-Appellants
Plaintiff Tyler Pendergraft sued James Rhett Mason and Jace Mason for assault and battery, alleging separate injuries caused by each defendant. The jury returned separate verdicts with different damage awards against each defendant. Defendants moved to amend the judgment to merge the verdicts, arguing a double recovery, but the trial court denied the motion. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the merger doctrine did not apply because the jury awarded damages for separate claims based on different conduct causing different injuries.