Glossary
Punitive damages
Money awarded above and beyond compensatory damages, intended to punish the defendant for especially bad conduct and deter similar behavior in the future. Available only in limited circumstances.
Punitive damages aren't available in every case. The plaintiff usually has to prove the defendant acted with malice, fraud, oppression, or reckless disregard. Ordinary negligence isn't enough.
The U.S. Supreme Court has put limits on how much punitive damages courts can award relative to compensatory damages: generally a single-digit ratio is the constitutional ceiling, though there are exceptions. Many states have additional statutory caps.