How are punitive damages generally characterized in civil cases?

Punitive damages are characterized primarily by their purpose, which is not to compensate the plaintiff for direct losses, nor are they based solely on legal costs or contractual obligations. Instead, they are designed to punish a defendant for particularly egregious or reprehensible conduct and to deter others from engaging in similar behavior in the future. By exceeding compensatory damages, punitive damages serve as a financial consequence intended to reflect societal condemnation of the defendant’s actions and to promote accountability.

In civil cases, where the primary aim is typically to make the injured party whole through compensatory damages, punitive damages go beyond this function. They are awarded in situations where the behavior exhibited by the defendant is found to be not just negligent, but willfully malicious or grossly negligent. This function aligns with the legal principle that aims to uphold justice and discourage wrongful behavior across society.

Options that suggest punitive damages are meant to address direct losses, cover legal costs, or stem solely from contractual obligations do not accurately capture the essence of punitive damages, as these aspects are covered by other forms of damages within civil law.