What are Punitive Damages?
Punitive damages are damages awarded in a civil trial as a way to punish a defendant for gross negligence or severe misconduct. They are also called exemplary damages. Although the purpose behind punitive damages is not to compensate the plaintiff, they are paid to the plaintiff in court, making their financial recovery significantly smoother. In Texas, exemplary damages are defined and regulated by Chapter 41 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code:
(5) “Exemplary damages” means any damages awarded as a penalty or by way of punishment but not for compensatory purposes. Exemplary damages are neither economic nor noneconomic damages. “Exemplary damages” includes punitive damages.
Thus the two are used interchangeably to describe the same thing.
How Much May a Person Recover in Punitive Damages?
The amount that you may recover in punitive damages is limited by any statutory caps on punitive damages in the state where your trial takes place and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which requires that the award not be excessive. Within those limitations, a jury may impose whatever amount it sees fit.
Under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, the imposition of excessive punitive damages is strictly prohibited. Because the main purpose is to punish the wrongdoing of the defendant, rather than compensate the plaintiff, state, and federal courts have implemented guidelines to ensure damages are reasonable and fair.
In the Supreme Court case State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. Campbell, 123 S. Ct. 1513 (2003), the United States Supreme Court held that the punitive damages awarded were excessive and therefore in violation of the Due Process Clause. In this case, the Court applied three guideposts that had been established in prior case law:
- The degree of reprehensibility of the defendant’s misconduct;
- The disparity between the actual or potential harm suffered by the plaintiff and the punitive damages award; and
- The difference between the punitive damages awarded by the jury and the civil penalties authorized or imposed in comparable cases.
The Supreme Court did establish guidelines related to the second guidepost to help clarify the permissibility of the ratio between actual and punitive damages. The Court held that the degree of punishment must be reasonable and proportionate to the amount of harm the plaintiff suffered and the damages recovered. While punitive damages are constitutional, in this case, the Supreme Court applied guidelines to ensure they are not abused.
Who Has the Burden of Proof for Punitive Damages?
The burden of proof for punitive damages falls upon the plaintiff. This is because the plaintiff is seeking these damages not simply because were injured, but because the actions of the defendant were egregious. In this case, the plaintiff is seeking an award of a specific amount that is to be decided by the jury.
What is the Burden of Proof for Punitive Damages in Texas?
Punitive damages must be proven by ‘clear and convincing evidence’ not the normal ‘preponderance of the evidence’ standard for negligence. Furthermore, for a jury to award punitive damages, the verdict must be unanimous rather than the 10/12 jurors required for negligence.
The Requirement of Proof of Actual Damages
Additionally, in order to receive punitive damages in Texas, the plaintiff must prove actual damages. Actual damages, also known as compensatory damages, are awarded based on proven injuries suffered by the plaintiff such as medical bills and lost wages.
What Must You Prove to Recover Exemplary Damages in Texas?
In order to recover exemplary damages in Texas, the plaintiff must show that the harm resulted from fraud, malice, or gross negligence. Gross negligence means an act or omission:
- which when viewed objectively from the standpoint of the actor at the time of its occurrence involves an extreme degree of risk, considering the probability and magnitude of the potential harm to others; and:
- of which the actor has actual, subjective awareness of the risk involved, but nevertheless proceeds with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of others.
Thus, a merely negligent action will not rise to the level of an award of punitive damages. Furthermore, you cannot obtain punitive damages in Texas for violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, violations of the Texas Insurance Code, Antitrust Code violations, or criminal Medicare Fraud.