Pizitz v. Yeldell

Louis Pizitz Dry Goods Co. v. Yeldell was a U.S. Supreme Court Case involving the Louis Pizitz Dry Goods Company, and argued on February 25 and February 28, 1927, and decided on April 11, 1927. The case involved a wrongful death allegation against the dry goods company due to apparent negligent operation of a customer elevator by an employee. The decision, read by Supreme Court Judge Justice Stone, upheld that the Homicide Act of Alabama, § 5696, Code of 1923, did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment. Said Homicide Act allowed punitive damages against employers for deaths caused by the negligence of employees.

The Supreme Court also affirmed the original verdict of $9,500 in damages as returned by a jury.

References

Louis Pizitz Dry Goods Co. v. Weldell, 274 U.S. 112 (1927) [1]