Opinion ID: 1426915
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: caps on punitive damages awards

Text:  Colorado Colo.Rev.Stat. §§ 13-21-102( l )(a) and (3) (1987) (as a main rule, caps punitive damages at amount of actual damages).  Connecticut Conn. Gen.Stat. § 52-240b (1995) (caps punitive damages at twice compensatory damages in products liability cases).  Delaware H.R. 237, 138th Gen. Ass. (introduced May 17, 1995) (would cap punitive damages at greater of three times compensatory damages, or $250,000).  Florida Fla. Stat. §§ 768.73( l )(a) and (b) (Supp.1992) (in general, caps punitive damages at three times compensatory damages).  Georgia Ga.Code Ann. § 51-12-5.1 (Supp.1995) (caps punitive damages at $250,000 in some tort actions; prohibits multiple awards stemming from the same predicate conduct in products liability actions).  Illinois H. 20, 89th Gen. Ass. 1995-1996 Reg. Sess. (enacted Mar. 9, 1995) (caps punitive damages at three times economic damages).  Indiana H. 1741, 109th Reg. Sess. (enacted Apr. 26, 1995) (caps punitive damages at greater of three times compensatory damages, or $50,000).  Kansas Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 60-3701(e) and (f) (1994) (in general, caps punitive damages at lesser of defendant's annual gross income, or $5 million).  Maryland S. 187, 1995 Leg. Sess. (introduced Jan. 27, 1995) (in general, would cap punitive damages at four times compensatory damages).  Minnesota S. 489, 79th Leg. Sess., 1995 Reg. Sess. (introduced Feb. 16, 1995) (would require reasonable relationship between compensatory and punitive damages).  Nevada Nev.Rev.Stat. § 42.005(l) (1993) (caps punitive damages at three times compensatory damages if compensatory damages equal $100,000 or more, and at $300,000 if the compensatory damages are less than $100,000).  New Jersey S. 1496, 206th Leg., 2d Ann. Sess. (1995) (caps punitive damages at greater of five times compensatory damages, or $350,000, in certain tort cases).  North Dakota N.D. Cent.Code § 32-03.2-11(4) (Supp.1995) (caps punitive damages at greater of two times compensatory damages, or $250,000).  Oklahoma Okla Stat., Tit. 23, §§ 9.1(B)(D) (Supp.1996) (caps punitive damages at greater of $100,000, or actual damages, if jury finds defendant guilty of reckless disregard; and at greatest of $500,000, twice actual damages, or the benefit accruing to defendant from the injury-causing conduct, if jury finds that defendant has acted intentionally and maliciously).  Texas S. 25, 74th Reg. Sess. (enacted Apr. 20, 1995) (caps punitive damages at twice economic damages, plus up to $750,000 additional noneconomic damages).  Virginia Va.Code Ann. § 8.01-38.1 (1992) (caps punitive damages at $350,000).