What type of damages are intended to punish the defendant in tort cases?

Punitive damages are specifically designed to punish a defendant for particularly egregious or wrongful behavior and to deter them and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future. Unlike compensatory damages, which aim to make the injured party whole by covering actual losses or harm suffered, punitive damages exceed mere compensation and serve a broader societal purpose.

In tort cases, punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant's actions were found to be willfully negligent, malicious, or reckless. This means their behavior goes beyond just being careless or causing harm; it indicates a conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others.

Additionally, nominal damages are given when a legal right has been violated, but no actual monetary loss occurred, serving more to affirm the legal principle than to punish. Consequential damages are losses that are not directly caused by an act but stem from it, such as lost profits as a consequence of the tort. Thus, it is clear that punitive damages are the only type specifically meant to punish the defendant.