Simon, Lionel vs. Sao Paulo U.S. Holding Company, Inc.
Year 2003
Court California Supreme Court
Case Number S121933
Issue
  • Punitive Damages
State
  • California

A careful reading of Campbell shows that the Supreme Court did not lay down a single digit ratio for punitive damages and the decision was not intended to deprive states of the ability to exercise their legitimate state interests in deterring and punishing unlawful conduct through the use of reasonable punitive damage awards. The permissible ratio of punitive to compensatory damages after Campbell should not be limited to a bright line ratio. See Johnson, Greg et al. v. Ford Motors