Ginger attacks Richard and cuts him with a knife. He sues Ginger. The jury awards Richard $50,000 for medical expenses and lost time at work and adds $100,000 to the award because Ginger was so vicious. The $100,000 is called:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant for their actions and to deter them from repeating such actions in the future. In this case, the $100,000 awarded by the jury is punitive damages because they are intended to punish Ginger for her vicious attack on Richard. The $50,000 awarded for medical expenses and lost time at work is compensatory damages, which are intended to compensate the plaintiff for their losses.

Ginger Attacks Richard and Cuts Him with a Knife