Patton v. Mid-Continent Systems, Inc.

841 F2d 742 (7th Cir. 1988).

Facts

Patton (P) agreed to honor Mid-Continent's (D) credit cards in return for an exclusive territorial agreement. D allowed other truck stops to accept their card in the same territory that was guaranteed to P. P sued for breach. The jury awarded P compensatory and punitive damages. D appealed; it was error to award punitive damages for breach of contract.