Court Opinion

ID: 9761173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:33:18.010124+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:20.585370
License: Public Domain

HUTCHINSON, Justice,
concurring and dissenting.
I join Mr. Justice Larsen in his view that punitive damages, which are not subject to reimbursement by an insurer, are permitted as “non-reimbursable tort fines” under Section 301(b) of the Pennsylvania No-Fault Motor Vehicle Act, Act of July 19, 1974, P.L. 489, No. 176, 40 P.S. § 1009.301(b). However, I disagree with his view that they are also recoverable under the language of Section 301(a), as well as any implication that it would be unconstitutional under Article I, § II of our Pennsylvania No-Fault Motor Vehicle Act for the legislature to abolish punitive damages as a remedy in tort actions for personal injury arising out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle. Finally, I too join the majority at 16 M.D. Appeal Docket 1982, in affirming Superior Court’s grant of a new trial because of the erroneous exclusion of portions of plaintiff’s medical testimony.