Punitive damages make up a notoriously contentious field of law. As in the national political environment, there is little room for moderate opinions these days.
Plaintiffs perceive grasping and uncaring corporations running roughshod over the little guy, while defendants tend to see juries run amok, doling out ridiculous and unpredictable damages awards like Monopoly money. About the only thing the plaintiff and defense bars can agree on in this area is the fact that the rules governing this remedy are, shall we say, less than crystal clear.