^^unlike the money they recieved? That didn't affect them at all?

4/9/2009 12:32:11 PM

In a sense, getting awarded lost wages and profits from fishing is better than actually fishing because, as I understand it, court judgements are not taxed.

[Edited on April 10, 2009 at 1:24 PM. Reason : .,.]

4/10/2009 1:24:21 PM

I understand the role of punitive damages, but I believe that there have to be guidelines and restrictions. Allowing a civil jury to assess punitive damages as they see fit is not in line with the structure of our judicial system. We have sentencing guidelines for criminal cases, and even then it is ultimately the judge that determines the actual sentence. Juries are too fickle easily swayed by emotional arguments to be consistent in assessing punitive damages.

Prison sentences are not assessed based on how young or how healthy a person is, they are based on the crime. Likewise, punitive damages in civil cases shouldn't reflect the profitability or size of a company, but rather the intent and culpability of the parties involved. Stop with the argument about how profitable Exxon was last year, because it has no bearing on their level of negligence in a 1996 oil spill.

[Edited on April 10, 2009 at 1:45 PM. Reason : 2]

4/10/2009 1:42:36 PM