Which type of damages are awarded if a defendant's actions are wanton or in disregard of others safety and meant to deter future such actions as discussed in the McDonald's Coffee lawsuit video?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the type of damages awarded when a defendant’s conduct is wanton or in disregard of others’ safety and is intended to deter future similar conduct, as discussed in the McDonald’s Coffee lawsuit video.
Option 1: Compensatory Damages. These are designed to compensate the plaintiff for actual losses such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. They do not aim to punish the defendant or deter future conduct, but rather to restore the plaintiff to the position they were in before the injury. Therefore, this choice does not match the described purpose of punishment and deterrence.
Option 2: Nominal Damages. Nominal damages are a very small sum awarded when a legal wrong occurred but the plaintiff did not suffer substantial actual harm. They acknowledge the violation without monetary compensation for losses, and they likewise are not meant to punish or deter conduct. Hence, this option fails to fit the scenario of punishing and deterring wanton disregard for safety.
Option 3: Reduction Damages. This term is not commonly used in tort or civil-law contexts to describe a category of damages intended to punish or deter. It does not align with the standard classifications that include compensatory, nominal, and punitive damages. Consequently, this option is not appropriate in the described context.
Option 4: Punitive Damages. Punitive damages (sometimes called exemplary damages) are awarded not to compensate the plaintiff for losses, but to punish particularly egregious conduct and to deter the defendant and others from similar actions in the future. They are specifically associated with wanton, willful, or reckless disregard for safety, which matches the scenario described in the question.
Overall, the reasoning centers on the purpose behind each damages type: compensatory for restitution, nominal for minimal acknowledgment of wrongdoing, reduction (not a standard category here) for non-specific purposes, and punitive for punishment and deterrence. The scenario emphasizes deterrence and punitive response to egregious behavior, aligning with punitive damages.

SMGT 3861 (001) Midterm Exam

Which type of damages are awarded if a defendant's actions are wanton or in disregard of others safety and meant to deter future such actions as discussed in the McDonald's Coffee lawsuit video?

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