What exactly are "punitive" damages"?

[woodsy]

What is the name of your state? New York

Can someone explain "punitive damages?

 

[CCPENNOCK]

Punitive damages- An award added to compensatory damages, to punish the defendent for maliciious or outrageous conduct and discourage others from similar acts. Compensatory damages are to make the wronged party whole, punitive damages are to punish the person who has done another wrong. CCP

 

[JETX]

punitive damages
n. (synony- mous with exemplary damages), damages awarded in a lawsuit as a punishment and example to others for malicious, evil or particularly fraudulent acts.

exemplary damages
n. often called punitive damages, these are damages requested and/or awarded in a lawsuit when the defendant's willful acts were malicious, violent, oppressive, fraudulent, wanton or grossly reckless. Examples of acts warranting exemplary damages: publishing that someone had committed murders when the publisher knew it was not true but hated the person; an ex-husband trashes his former wife's auto and threatens further property damage; a stockbroker buys and sells a widow's stocks to generate commissions resulting in her losing all her capital (money). These damages are awarded both as a punishment and to set a public example. They reward the plaintiff for the horrible nature of what she/he went through or suffered. Although often requested, exemplary damages are seldom awarded. There have been major awards in egregious (remarkable or outstanding) cases, such as fraud schemes, sexual harassment or other intentional and vicious actions even when the provable actual damages were not extensive.