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Personal Injury & Torts

Jun. 16, 2011

Ruling Reignites Debate Over Punitives

A state judge has reluctantly gutted a $19 million punitive damages award for a paraplegic military veteran who sued his insurer despite concerns that the cap would fail to correct "reprehensible" conduct.


By Ciaran McEvoy


Daily Journal Staff Writer


LOS ANGELES - In a case likely to stir new debate over damage award ratios, a state court judge has reluctantly gutted a jury's $19 million punitive damages award down to just $350,000 for a paraplegic military veteran suing an insurance company.


Thomas Nickerson, 55, accused Stonebridge Life Insurance Co. of acting in bad faith by only paying for 19 days out of a 109-day hospital stay his doctor...

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