Punitive damages arise in some strange contexts. In this opinion, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reinstated a $5 million punitive damages award in a father-son feud over control of a beef jerky empire.

The trial court had reduced the award to $736,000, but the appellate court determined that the trial court had no power to order the reduction because the defendant filed his posttrial motion one day late. Oops.

Hat tip: Beef Jerky Blog (“The Undisputed King of Beef Jerky!”)