What are punitive damages designed to achieve?

Punitive damages are specifically aimed at punishing the defendant for particularly egregious or unlawful behavior that goes beyond mere negligence. They serve to deter the defendant and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. Unlike compensatory damages, which are intended to reimburse the plaintiff for actual losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, or property damage, punitive damages focus on the nature of the defendant's actions and societal interests in discouraging wrongful behavior.

This distinction is crucial as it reflects the legal system's intention to not only provide justice to the individual harmed but also to uphold public policy by discouraging misconduct. Therefore, punitive damages are not linked to compensating for property loss or ensuring that a plaintiff wins a case; they do not affect the procedural aspects of legal proceedings like reducing their duration either. Instead, their emphasis is on the punishment and correction of the defendant's behavior.