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

Heading: Availability of Punitive Damages for Violations of Federal Law

Text: 57 Unquestionably, [p]unitive damages are available in § 1983 actions [and] are to be awarded only when the defendant's conduct is shown to be motivated by evil motive or intent, or when it involves reckless or callous indifference to the federally protected rights of others. Jolivet v. Deland, 966 F.2d 573, 577 (10th Cir.1992) (internal quotations marks and citations omitted). The focus must be on whether the defendant's actions call for `deterrence and punishment over and above that provided by compensatory awards.' Id. ( Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 54, 103 S.Ct. 1625, 75 L.Ed.2d 632 (1983)). [P]unitive damages serve a broader function [than compensatory damages]; they are aimed at deterrence and retribution. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Campbell, ___ U.S. ___, 123 S.Ct. 1513, 1519, 155 L.Ed.2d 585 (2003). 2 58 We take seriously the purpose of punitive damages, i.e., to punish what has occurred and to deter its repetition. Pacific Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Haslip, 499 U.S. 1, 21, 111 S.Ct. 1032, 113 L.Ed.2d 1 (1991). Ms. Youren's evidence in the record, if believed, appears to us to reflect actions that should be deterred and punished. Ms. Youren's efforts to bring to light the questionable activities at her school were allegedly met with contempt, hostility, and anger. Ms. Rowse decided to have Ms. Youren undergo a psychological examination — a request that was accompanied by a threat that [f]ailure to follow this request will constitute insubordination, Aple's App. vol. I, at 23 (Letter from Ms. Rowse to Ms. Youren, dated Sep. 10, 1997). If a jury were to find these acts to be unjustified, punitive damages could be appropriate. 59 Especially in the context of a public school and its role in educating and caring for the nation's youth, it is extremely important to protect those who shine a light on unsavory and illegal practices — risking their careers in the knowledge that their colleagues will be anything but grateful for those efforts. This case involved allegations that children were being seduced by adult authority figures, and that the defendants induced a false accusation of sexual assault against a child's step-father. Depending upon which of these allegations the jury believed, the jury might well conclude that malice existed, that there was reckless or callous indifference to Ms. Youren's rights, etc. In short, a jury could view this as being sufficient to justify an award of punitive damages. See, e.g., Medlock v. Ortho Biotech, Inc., 164 F.3d 545, 551 (10th Cir.1999) (upholding jury award for punitive damages in retaliatory discharge case under 42 U.S.C. § 1981). 60 We therefore hold that, because there was sufficient evidence for a jury to consider the possibility of awarding punitive damages against Ms. Rowse, the district court erred in preventing the jury from considering the imposition of punitive damages on her. On remand, the district court should hold a trial limited to the issue of punitive damages for the federal claims, permitting the jury to consider awarding such damages against Ms. Rowse.