United States First Circuit

The standard of review for punitive damages is de novo, looking for three things: a high degree of reprehensibility of the defendant's conduct; a modest ratio between the compensatory and punitive damages; and a fair comparison between the award and potential civil statutory liability.

Appellate Information

• Decided 09/04/2001
• Published 09/04/2001

Judges

• SELYA, Circuit Judge., Before SELYA, Circuit Judge, GIBSON, Senior Circuit Judge, and LIPEZ, Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Harvey Weiner, with whom John J. O'Connor, Peabody & Arnold LLP, A. Van C. Lanckton, Daniel C. Reiser, and Craig and Macauley Professional Corporation were on brief, for appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Juliane Balliro, with whom Robert D. Friedman, Susan E. Stenger, and Perkins, Smith & Cohen, LLP were on brief, for appellee.