punitive damages

Definition

Extra money awarded not to compensate victims but to punish defendants for particularly egregious behavior. It's the court's way of saying 'that was so awful, we're going to make an example of you.'

Example Usage

The jury awarded $50,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, clearly wanting to send a message to the corporation.

Origin

From common law tradition of exemplary damages

Fun Fact

Some states cap punitive damages because legislators worry about 'jackpot justice,' though plaintiffs' attorneys prefer to call it 'accountability.'

Source: Common tort law terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

stipulate

To formally agree to specific terms or conditions in a contract, or to agree that certain facts are true so you don't have to waste time proving them in court. It's the legal profession's way of saying "fine, we'll accept that for the sake of argument." Also saves billable hours, which is probably the real reason lawyers do it.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Injunction

A court order telling someone to stop doing something, which is what judges issue when saying "knock it off" needs to be legally binding. The adult version of a teacher confiscating your phone.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

arbitrators

Professional dispute settlers who make binding decisions when parties can't work things out themselves, essentially paid referees for grown-up arguments. They wield less power than judges but more than your HR department, and their decisions typically can't be appealed—so pick carefully. The business world's way of saying 'we need an adult in the room.'

⚖️ Legal

Beginner

dispute

A disagreement or conflict between parties that may or may not end up in formal legal proceedings. In workplace contexts, disputes range from polite disagreements over processes to full-blown conflicts requiring HR intervention or arbitration. How disputes are handled reveals everything about an organization's actual culture versus what's on the careers page.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

infringement

The legal term for stepping on someone else's rights, property, or intellectual turf—whether it's copyright, patents, or just good old-fashioned trespassing. Lawyers love this word because it sounds more sophisticated than "you broke the rules." Usually followed by either a cease-and-desist letter or a hefty lawsuit.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

reparation

Payment or compensation for past wrongs, usually involving significant amounts of money, effort, or public apologies. The historical and legal concept of making amends, scaled up from personal apologies to international treaties. Can range from war reparations between nations to your ex trying to make up for that thing they did in 2019.

⚖️ Legal

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