Compensatory

Appeals Court Slashes $65 Million Punitive Damage Award in Georgia Fraud Case, Upholds $650,000 Compensatory Judgment

by

ATLANTA, Ga. — A Georgia Court of Appeals ruling has significantly reduced the punitive damages awarded in a fraud case involving a doctor and a businessman. The court vacated a jury’s $65 million punitive award while upholding compensatory damages of $650,000 and attorney fees exceeding $500,000 against businessman Firoz Thakkar. The appellate court noted that the “potential and actual harm” caused by Thakkar’s actions primarily affected one individual, leading to an economic loss rather than broader societal damages. The judges emphasized that under the circumstances presented, the punitive damages were disproportionate. If this ruling remains … Read more

Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins Defamation Suit Against Writers, Awarded Nominal Compensatory Damages in DC Jury Verdict

by

WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of climate scientist Michael Mann in his defamation lawsuit against writers Mark Steyn and Rand Simberg. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2012, challenged the validity of Mann’s research and compared Penn State’s investigation into his alleged misconduct to the university’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The jury awarded Mann nominal compensatory damages of $1 against each defendant, but also added punitive damage awards of $1 million against Steyn and $1,000 against Simberg. It is likely that these damages, and possibly the … Read more