What is the ratio of punitive damages to actual damages?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Gourley v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 227 Cal.App.3d 1099, 265 Cal.Rptr. 634 (Cal. App. 1990):
The "ratio-of-punitive-damages-to-actual-damages" factor is similar to the "wealth" factor. It is capable of mathematical determination. The fact that it may be subjugated to the other factors on occasion (Neal v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, supra, 21 Cal.3d 910, 929, 148 Cal.Rptr. 389, 582 P.2d 980), does not render it or the whole scheme of guidelines vague.
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