Mike T. Hunter, v. Damien V. Burke and Donnie Wear, and Joe Guffey, Individually and doing business as J.D. Auto Sales, and Edwin Thompson, A/K/A Edward Thompson

This is a suit for damages arising out of personal injuries sustained by Mike T. Hunter (Hunter) when he was hit by an automobile driven by the defendant Damian V. Burke (Burke). Burke's vehicle ws owned by the defendants Donnie Wear (Wear) and Joe Guffey (Guffey). The trial court directed a verdict against all of the appealing defendants. 1. The jury then awarded Hunter compensatory damages of $270,000. These defendants appealed, raising the following questions for our resolution: