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United States Leading Case aggravated and exemplary damages

BMW of North America Inc v Gore

517 U.S. 559 (1996)
JurisdictionUnited States
CourtUS Supreme Court
Year1996
StatusBinding authority

Summary

Due Process Clause limits punitive damages; courts apply three guideposts: reprehensibility, ratio to actual harm, and comparable civil penalties.

Key Principle

The Due Process Clause limits punitive damages awards; three guideposts: degree of reprehensibility, ratio to actual harm, and comparable civil penalties.

Area of Law

tort

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