Which type of damages are awarded to punish the defendant rather than to compensate the plaintiff?

• A. Compensatory damages
• B. Punitive damages
• C. Statutory law
• D. Administrative law

Answer: (B)

Punitive damages are awarded to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct, rather than to compensate the plaintiff for losses. They are added on top of any compensatory damages and are typically reserved for cases involving intentional harm, fraud, or gross negligence. Compensatory damages, by contrast, are meant to reimburse the plaintiff for actual losses—medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering—so the plaintiff is restored as much as possible to their pre-injury state. The other terms refer to legal sources rather than remedies: statutory law is enacted by legislatures, and administrative law governs the actions of government agencies.