To: Poohbah
I happen to agree with the Supreme Court decision mentioned here, but the fact is that it has already been established through precedent that the 8th amendment (and the 5th amendment) reins in the state, not the plaintiffs.
58 posted on
04/07/2003 12:27:54 PM PDT by
wimpycat
('Nemo me impune lacessit')
To: wimpycat
Common law holds that you have to make the injured party whole. That's the basis of compensatory damages.
The idea of PUNITIVE damages is entirely a creation of statutory law--i.e., a creation of the State.
59 posted on
04/07/2003 12:31:14 PM PDT by
Poohbah
(Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!)
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