Opinion ID: 2972446
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Cross-Appeal for Increased Punitive Damages

Text: The only remaining issue before us arises from Pollard’s cross-appeal in which she argues that the District Court should have awarded more punitive damages because (1) the award does not comply with the deterrent goals of Tennessee law in light of DuPont’s “assets in excess of $34 billion,” (2) she incurred substantial out-of-pocket expenses, (3) DuPont’s “remedial efforts” came too late and that plant manager Wasilik’s testimony was insincere and should not have been credited, and (4) the multiplier of compensatory damages into punitive damages was too low to deter future misconduct by DuPont. We have previously recited in the discussion of punitive damages the broad authority of the District Court in determining the amount of damages that should be awarded in order to deter wrongful conduct. We find no abuse of discretion in the District Court’s treatment of punitive damages and hence do not believe that the plaintiff’s cross-appeal is well taken. Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is affirmed.