Opinion ID: 775072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Dismissal of Punitive Damages Claim

Text: 33 Dubner also challenges the trial judge's determination, at the close of her case, that there was insufficient evidence to support punitive damages against Ziegler and Ehrlich. Punitive damages are available against individual police officers in a §§ 1983 claim only where the officers'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. Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56 (1983). The trial judge rightly concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support an allegation as to punitive damages. While we shift the burden to the defense to show probable cause after a prima facie case of unlawful arrest, we have never applied this burden shifting scheme to the issue of punitive damages. The officers were not obligated to come forward with evidence showing that they did not have nefarious motives or act with reckless indifference.