Law
Punitive Damages in Gross Negligence Cases
Quick fact
Punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim; they exist to punish the wrongdoer and deter others. In the U.S., courts have said that the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages rarely exceeds 9-to-1 without violating due process.
Why this is interesting
When someone is so careless that they hurt you, compensation may not be enough—but when does carelessness become so extreme that the law punishes the wrongdoer?