Which type of damages is specifically intended to impose punishment in civil lawsuits?

Punitive damages are awarded in civil lawsuits specifically to punish the defendant for particularly egregious or reckless behavior and to deter similar conduct in the future. Unlike compensatory damages, which are designed to reimburse the plaintiff for actual losses suffered, punitive damages are not tied to any specific loss; rather, they serve as a form of societal condemnation of the defendant's actions.

The purpose of punitive damages is to go beyond mere compensation and to impose a financial penalty that reflects the severity of the wrongdoing. This makes them distinct and critical in cases where the defendant's actions were especially harmful or malicious. By sending a clear message that wrongful behavior will incur significant penalties, punitive damages aim to discourage not only the defendant from repeating the conduct but also to serve as a warning to others in society.

In contrast, consequential damages address additional losses that occur as a direct result of a defendant's actions, nominal damages acknowledge a legal wrong when a plaintiff has not proven actual losses, and compensatory damages are focused on reimbursing the plaintiff for their direct losses. Each of these types of damages has a different function within the legal system, reinforcing the unique role of punitive damages as a tool for punishment and deterrence.