Cruz v. Homebase

Where a jury hearing a store patrons claims for battery, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution found for the patron on the battery claim, but hung on the others, it was proper thereafter to try only the false imprisonment and malicious prosecution claims to a second jury, with appropriate admonitions about the prior battery verdict. A corporation is not deemed to ratify misconduct, and thus become liable for punitive damages, unless its officer, director, or managing agent actually knew about the misconduct and its malicious character. A "managing agent" is an employee with authority to establish corporate policy, that is, the broad principles and rules of general application which govern corporate conduct.