DocketNumber: 11773
Citation Numbers: 535 P.2d 1302, 111 Ariz. 585
Judges: Per Curiam
Filed Date: 6/2/1975
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 8/22/2023
Supreme Court of Arizona, In Banc.
*586 Burch, Cracchiolo, Levie Guyer & Weyl, by Daniel Cracchiolo, Phoenix, for petitioners.
Norling, Rolle, King & Oeser, by George S. Livermore, Cox & Cox, by Alfred S. Cox, Phoenix, for respondents American Alliance Life Ins. Co. and Security Nat. Life Ins. Co.
Berry & Herrick, by Richard Berry, Tempe, for respondent Barnes & Herzberg.
Murphy, Posner & Franks, by John K. Skomp, Phoenix, for respondent Ben Brooks & Associates, Inc.
PER CURIAM.
Petitioners commenced a civil action in the Superior Court of Maricopa County alleging they were fraudulently induced to convey real property. In Count One of their complaint they sought rescission of a deed based on fraud. In Count Two they sought punitive damages against certain of the defendants. The Superior Court ordered the claim for punitive damages stricken. This special action seeks to restore petitioners' claim for punitive damages. The issue is whether petitioners can have both a rescission and punitive damages.
Punitive damages may be recovered in Arizona in an equitable action where actual damages are proved. Starkovich v. Noye, 111 Ariz. 347, 529 P.2d 698 (1974). However, a party who has been defrauded is put to an election of remedies. He may either affirm the contract and sue for damages or rescind the contract and return the parties to the status quo ante. He cannot do both. Jennings v. Lee, 105 Ariz. 167, 461 P.2d 161 (1969). It is settled in Arizona that actual damages must be established as a predicate for recovery of punitive damages. Craviolini v. Scholer and Fuller, etc., 101 Ariz. 33, 415 P.2d 456 (1956); Jacob v. Miner, 67 Ariz. 109, 191 P.2d 734 (1948). We are not convinced that we should depart from the holdings of our former decisions.
Petitioners' prayer for relief is denied.
Starkovich v. Noye , 111 Ariz. 347 ( 1974 )
Jennings v. Lee , 105 Ariz. 167 ( 1969 )
Hillock v. Bade , 111 Ariz. 585 ( 1975 )
Hillock v. Bade , 111 Ariz. 585 ( 1975 )
Fousel v. Ted Walker Mobile Homes, Inc. , 124 Ariz. 126 ( 1979 )
Newton v. Yates , 170 Ind. App. 486 ( 1976 )
Broadacre Trailer Lodge, Inc. v. Johnson , 439 N.E.2d 684 ( 1982 )
Capitol Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Hohman , 9 Kan. App. 2d 217 ( 1984 )
Jacobs v. Farmland Mut. Ins. Co. , 377 N.W.2d 441 ( 1985 )