Chapter 19 Punitive Damages

Index

Section 1 Introduction
Section 2 U.S. Supreme Court Decisions
Section 3 Eighth Circuit and Missouri Court Decisions
Section 4 Nature and Purpose of Punitive Damages
Section 5 Pleading—Punitive Damages Do Not Constitute a Separate Cause of Action
Section 6 Recovery of Actual Damages
Section 7 Existence of Malice and Absence of Good Faith
Section 8 Causative Link
Section 9 Burden of Proof—“Clear and Convincing Evidence”
Section 10 Comparative Fault Does Not Apply
Section 11 Prohibited Actions
Section 12 Wrongful Death
Section 13 Survival Actions
Section 14 Loss of Consortium
Section 15 Odometer Fraud Under
Section 16 Service Letter Content Under
Section 17 Claim for Contribution
Section 18 Miscellaneous Statutory Causes of Action
Section 19 Tort Reform Act
Section 20 Questions About Punitive Damages During Voir Dire
Section 21 Plaintiff May Accept Award of Compensatory Damages and Still Appeal Punitives
Section 22 Tort Victims’ Compensation Fund: Payment of One-Half the Punitives Award to the State
Section 23 Remand for Trial on Punitives Alone
Section 24 Knowledge
Section 25 Complete Indifference or Conscious Disregard
Section 26 Sanders and the Supreme Court’s Distinction Between Actual Malice, Legal Malice, and Malice in Law
Section 27 Current Approach—Adoption of the “Outrageous Conduct” Standard in 1989
Section 28 Setting the Amount
Section 29 Relationship Between Actuals and Punitives
Section 30 Nexus Required Between Injury and Amount of Punitives
Section 31 Financial Condition
Section 32 Degree of Malice and Other Factors
Section 33 What Is Excessive
Section 34 Passion, Prejudice, or Bias
Section 35 Nominal Damages Cases
Section 36 Available Alternatives When the Verdict Is Deemed Excessive
Section 37 Examples of High-Ratio, Nonexcessive Verdicts
Section 38 Intentional Tort Actions
Section 39 Criminal Malicious Prosecution
Section 40 Civil Malicious Prosecution
Section 41 Assault and Battery
Section 42 False Imprisonment
Section 43 Wrongful Garnishment
Section 44 Misapplication of Funds
Section 45 Defamation
Section 46 Fraud
Section 47 Merchandising Practices Act
Section 48 Tortious Interference With Contract and Business Expectations
Section 49 Infliction of Emotional Distress
Section 50 Conversion
Section 51 Trespass
Section 52 Other Intentional Tort Actions
Section 53 Negligence Actions
Section 54 Requisite Knowledge
Section 55 High Degree of Probability for Injury at the Time of Negligent Act
Section 56 Contract Actions
Section 57 Bad Faith Claims
Section 58 Punitive Damages Permitted
Section 59 Knowledge of Dangerous Condition
Section 60 Complete Indifference to or Conscious Disregard
Section 61 Medical Malpractice Actions
Section 62 Actions Against Governmental Entities
Section 63 Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Discharge
Section 64 Quick Reference to Instructing Jury in Particular Actions
Section 65 Criminal Malicious Prosecution
Section 66 Civil Malicious Prosecution
Section 67 Assault and Battery
Section 68 False Imprisonment
Section 69 Wrongful Garnishment
Section 70 Misapplication of Funds
Section 71 Defamation
Section 72 Fraudulent Misrepresentation and Nondisclosure
Section 73 Tortious Interference With Contract and Business Expectations
Section 74 Infliction of Emotional Distress
Section 75 Conversion
Section 76 Trespass
Section 77 Negligence Actions
Section 78 Contract Actions
Section 79 Strict Liability Actions
Section 80 Medical Malpractice Actions
Section 81 Defendant’s Converse Instruction
Section 82 Multiple Defendants
Section 83 Both Negligence and Strict Liability Actions
Section 84 Corporate Defendants
Section 85 Multiple Judgment Torts and Credit Allowed for Punitives by
Section 86 Multiple Defendants
Section 87 Municipal Corporations
Section 88 Punitive Damages Are Not Discharged in Bankruptcy
Section 89 For Conflict of Law Purposes, Punitive Damages Is a Substantive Issue
Section 90 Prejudgment Interest Permitted on Punitive Awards
Section 91 Review of Arbitrator’s Award of Punitive Damages