Linda won a lawsuit against Wilson for intentionally inflicting emotional distress.The jury awarded Linda $500,000 in compensatory damages.It also awarded her $5.7 million in punitive damages because Wilson was quite wealthy and the jury thought a large amount was necessary for him to feel the punishing effects of the judgment.Would Wilson have a valid claim to have the jury's award reversed?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court has set guidelines for punitive damages, including that they cannot be excessive in relation to compensatory damages and that the defendant's wealth alone cannot be used as a reason for an unreasonably high award. In this case, Wilson's wealth was cited as a reason for the large award, which could be seen as excessive and a violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines. Therefore, Wilson may have a valid claim to have the punitive award reversed.

Linda Won a Lawsuit Against Wilson for Intentionally Inflicting Emotional