Punitive damages
Punitive damages are
damages awarded to a successful
plaintiff
in a
civil action, over and above the amount of compensatory damages, to:
- punish the conduct of the civil defendant;
- deter the civil defendant from committing the invidious act again; and
- deter others from doing the same thing.
Generally, punitive damages are only awarded for egregiously invidious
and wilful actions, not for mere carelessness or negligence.