Punitive damages are awarded primarily as a means of what?

Punitive damages are primarily awarded as a means of punishment. This type of damages is intended to serve as a deterrent to the defendant and others from engaging in similar behavior in the future. Unlike compensatory damages, which are designed to compensate the victim for their actual losses, punitive damages go beyond mere compensation. They aim to impose a financial penalty on the wrongdoer, particularly in cases where their actions were especially willful, malicious, or reckless.

The purpose of punitive damages is not to restore the plaintiff to their previous position, but rather to penalize the defendant's conduct and signal to society that such actions will not be tolerated. This makes them distinctively different from other legal remedies, as they focus on the behavior that led to the legal action rather than just the harm caused to the victim.