JCPenney has appealed a New York judge’s ruling that it must pay damages to Macy’s for interfering in the latter’s contract with Martha Stewart.
Penney, whose former CEO Ron Johnson had cut a secret partnership with Stewart behind Macy’s back in late 2011, said Tuesday it “does not believe that money damages are warranted and is defending against any damages by exercising options for appeal.”
That’s despite the fact that last month, New York Judge Jeffrey Oing limited Penney’s liability for damages, arguing that the sheer embarrassment of Johnson’s disastrous deal was punishment enough.
Oing ruled Macy’s wasn’t entitled to punitive damages because Penney’s plot to steal away Martha Stewart was “childish” rather than “wanton, reckless, [and] malicious.”
In a written response Tuesday, Macy’s said that “in light of” Penney’s appeal, it will appeal Oing’s denial of punitive damages to Macy’s.