Opinion ID: 163868
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Applicability of Punitive Damages to the Different Defendants in this Case

Text: 49 Before addressing the substance of Ms. Youren's concerns, we must first consider the applicability of punitive damages to the different defendants in this case. Both 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Utah law bar punitive damage awards against municipal agencies such as Tintic. See Miller v. City of Mission, Kansas, 705 F.2d 368, 377 (10th Cir.1983) (`[A] municipality is immune from punitive damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.') (quoting City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc., 453 U.S. 247, 271, 101 S.Ct. 2748, 69 L.Ed.2d 616 (1981)); Utah Code Ann. § 63-30-22(1)(a) (No judgment may be rendered against the government entity for exemplary or punitive damages.). 50 We therefore affirm the district court's dismissal of claims for punitive damages against the school district under both federal and state claims. The fact that municipalities are immune from punitive damages does not, however, mean that individual officials sued in their official capacity are likewise immune. The jury found that Ms. Rowse's actions violated Ms. Youren's federal civil rights and violated the Whistleblower Act. On de novo review, therefore, we must decide whether Ms. Youren's evidence against Ms. Rowse met the standard for punitive damages. As such, we must review whether the district court's blanket ruling disallowing punitive damages on all claims in this case was appropriate. 51 Because we now know that the jury found that Mr. Alder was not liable, however, no punitive damages can be imposed on him for state or federal claims. See Utah Code Ann. § 78-18-1(1)(a) ([P]unitive damages may be awarded only if compensatory or general damages are awarded.); City of Newport v. Fact Concerts, Inc., 453 U.S. 247, 269, 101 S.Ct. 2748, 69 L.Ed.2d 616 (1981) (noting that § 1983 allow[s] juries and courts to assess punitive damages in appropriate circumstances against the offending official, based on his personal financial resources) (emphasis added). Therefore, although Mr. Alder could have been subject to punitive damages under the same conditions as Ms. Rowse, the jury's holding makes it unnecessary to consider the applicability of punitive damages to Mr. Alder. 52