What are "punitive damages" in a legal context?

Punitive damages serve a specific purpose in the legal system: they are intended to punish a defendant for particularly egregious or malicious conduct and deter others from engaging in similar behavior. Unlike compensatory damages, which are designed to reimburse a plaintiff for actual losses (like lost wages or medical expenses), punitive damages go beyond mere compensation. They reflect society's condemnation of the defendant's actions and aim to safeguard public interest by discouraging harmful behaviors.

In cases where a defendant's actions are found to be willfully wrongful or negligent to a high degree, punitive damages can be awarded on top of compensatory damages. This distinction is crucial for understanding the role of punitive damages in civil law, as they are not tied to any specific financial loss experienced by the plaintiff but rather focus on the defendant's conduct and the need for accountability.