Verdicts for the plaintiffs

An Oconee jury returned verdicts early this afternoon in favor of the plaintiff, settling a week-long civil trial in the Common Pleas Court at Walhalla.  For breach of contract, the jury granted plaintiff 4105 Liberty Highway $850 thousand in actual damages and $400 thousand in punitive damages.  The damages are assessed against defendant Redland Properties.  For the claim of negligence, the jury assessed a $1.5 million penalty and $308 thousand for punitive damages.  Those damages are assessed against Redlands Properties and Larry S. Hoeben.  With the result, the clock starts on a 10-day period during which the defendants have the option for appeal.  The case involved claims of significant erosion on ByPass 123 business property sold by the defendants to the plaintiffs.