Punitive damages are considered punishment and are awarded when the defendant’s behavior is found to be especially harmful, intentional, or excessively reckless. Also referred to as “punitive and exemplary” damages because these damages not only punish and deter bad behavior from the defendant, they are also intended to set an example — be “exemplary” — to other individual or companies who may be engaging in the same type of illegal activity.
In legal terms, this means when the defendant is found to have acted with fraud, malice, or oppression. To win punitive damages requires lawyers to meet a higher burden of proof. At Simpson Law Group, we take punitive damages seriously because we see it as our opportunity to police corporate behavior and keep our society as fair, safe and civilized as possible.
If your case involves behavior by another party that may be considered “fraudulent, malicious or oppressive” because it was done intentionally or with careless disregard for your rights or safety, you may be entitled to recover punitive damages. Most law firms do not have a track record for recovering punitive damages, so you should make sure to talk about this in your initial interview. At Simpson Law Group, we know punitive damages!
United States District Court, Eastern District of California Case Number 34-2011-065083-CU-NP-EC / Judge Joel Woelfiel
San Diego Superior Court Case Number GIS 6945 / Judge Judith Hayes
San Diego Superior Court Case Number GIE 18815 / Judge Eddie Sturgeon
San Diego Superior Court Case Number GIC 814513 / Judge Fred Link
San Diego Superior Court Case Number 37-2011-091876-CU-WT-CLT/ Judge Joan Lewis
United States District Court, Eastern District of California / Case Number 08-CV-00505-LKK-DAD / Judge Lawrence Karlton
Sacramento Superior Court Case Number 07AS04375 / Judge Ronald Candee
San Diego Superior Court / Case Number 727835 / Judge Thomas LaVoy
San Diego Superior Court Case Number GIS 6945 / Judge Luis Vargas
San Diego Superior Court Case Number GIC 874049 / Judge Fred Link
Hon. Judge Gallo
*Indicates case that Simpson Law Group acted as consulting firm for punitive damages portion of case only
** Indicates case tried by Simpson Law Group partner Charles Moore in association with colleague Lawrence Bohm of Sacramento.