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Devine (P) sued Patteson (D) for maliciously and intentionally telling the United States District Attorney that P had violated certain laws of the United States. At trial, P testified that he spent $19,000 in defending himself in contesting the prosecution. This was not disputed at trial. D did not take the stand, and no evidence was introduced to the contrary. The jury returned a verdict to P of $500 and $1 in punitive damages. P appealed the amount of the verdict.

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