{"id":10891,"date":"2017-12-16T00:44:30","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T00:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=10891"},"modified":"2017-12-16T07:41:14","modified_gmt":"2017-12-16T07:41:14","slug":"punitive-damages-awarded-in-addition-to-actual-compensatory-damages-as-a-fine-imposed-as-a-form-of-punishment-when-the-defendant-acted-with-recklessness-malice-or-deceit-or-oppression-against-the","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=10891","title":{"rendered":"Punitive Damages – awarded in addition to actual compensatory damages as a fine imposed as a form of punishment when the defendant acted with recklessness, malice, or deceit, or oppression against the plaintiff(s)"},"content":{"rendered":"

punitive<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Having to do with punishment.<\/strong> [1]<\/span><\/p>\n

punitive damages<\/span>:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>(1848)<\/span><\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Damages awarded in addition to actual damages when the defendant acted with recklessness, malice, or deceit; specifically, damages assessed by way of penalizing the wrongdoer or making an example to others.\u00a0 *\u00a0 Punitive damages, which are intended to punish and thereby deter blameworthy conduct, are generally not recoverable for breach of contract.\u00a0 The Supreme Court has held that three guidelines help determine whether a punitive-damages award violates constitutional due process:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(1) the reprehensibility of the conduct being punished;
\n(2) the reasonableness of the relationship between\u2018the harm and the award; and
\n(3) the difference between the award and the civil penalties authorized in comparable cases. BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore<\/em>, 517 U.S. 559, 116 S.Ct. 1589 (1996)<\/span>.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 aka exemplary damages<\/em><\/strong><\/span>; vindictive damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; punitory damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; presumptive damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; added damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; aggravated damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; speculative damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; imaginary damages<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; smart money<\/strong><\/em><\/span>; punies<\/em><\/strong><\/span>. [2]
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Damages which are allowed as an enhancement of compensatory damages because of the wanton, reckless, malicious, or oppressive character of the acts of which the plaintiff complains.\u00a0 22 Am J2d Damg \u00a7 236<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Damages awarded to punish the defendant for a wilful act and to vindicate the rights of a party in substitution for personal revenge, thus safeguarding the public peace.\u00a0 Winkler v Hartford Acci. & Indem. Co<\/em>. 66 NJ Super 22, 168 A2d 418<\/span>.<\/strong> [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Excerpt from Cooper Indus. <\/em>v Leatherman Tool<\/em>, 532 U.S. 424, 432, 121 S.Ct. 1678, 1683 (2001):<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAlthough compensatory damages and punitive damages are typically awarded at the same time by the same decisionmaker, they serve distinct purposes.\u00a0 The former are intended to redress the concrete loss that the plaintiff has suffered by reason of the defendant’s wrongful conduct.\u00a0 The latter, which have been described as \u2018quasi-criminal,\u2019 operate as \u2018private fines’ intended to punish the defendant and to deter future wrongdoing.\u00a0 A jury\u2019s assessment of the extent of a plaintiff\u2019s injuries is essentially a factual determination, whereas its imposition of punitive damages is an expression of its moral condemnation<\/span>.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0[4]<\/span><\/p>\n

References:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> All material throughout this website is pertinent to people everywhere, and is being utilized in accordance with Fair Use<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]: Ballantine\u2019s Law <\/a>Dictionary\u00a0<\/b><\/a>Legal<\/b><\/a><\/em> Assistant<\/b><\/a><\/em> Edition<\/b><\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>by<\/b> Jack Ballantine\u00a0(James Arthur 1871-1949).\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Doctored<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>by\u00a0Jack G. Handler,\u00a0J.D.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a9 1994 Delmar by Thomson Learning.\u00a0 ISBN 0-8273-4874-6.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[2]: Black\u2019s Law <\/a><\/span><\/strong>Dictionary\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/strong>Deluxe<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em> Tenth<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em> Edition<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>by<\/b><\/span><\/strong> Henry Campbell Black, Editor in Chief Bryan A. Garner. ISBN: 978-0-314-61300-4<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[3]: Ballantine\u2019s Law <\/a><\/span><\/strong>Dictionary\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/strong>with<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em> Pronunciations<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em>
\n<\/span><\/a><\/em>Third Edition<\/a>\u00a0by James A. Ballantine\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(James Arthur 1871-1949).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Edited by William S. Anderson.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a9 1969 by THE LAWYER\u2019S CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY.\u00a0 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 68-30931<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[4]: Cooper Indus. <\/em>v Leatherman Tool<\/em>, 532 U.S. 424, 432, 121 S.Ct. 1678, 1683 (2001)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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