William E. Alcorn v. Andrew J. Mitchell

"The Angry Spitter"

Should damages for battery encompass indignities as well as physical injuries? Should juries be able to assign extra damages for particularly malicious or bad-natured conduct?

Defendant spat in plaintiff's face at the close of an earlier trial, in front of a large number of people. Plaintiff was awarded $1,000 ($18,341 in 2018 dollars). Defendant appeals the verdict as excessive.

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