United States First Circuit

In an action involving monetary damages, award of compensatory and punitive damages is affirmed where: 1) defendant failed to show the award of compensatory damages to co-plaintiffs was grossly excessive, inordinate, shocking to the conscience of the court, or so high that it would be a denial of justice to permit it to stand; and 2) co-plaintiff Mendez-Ayala met the threshold requirement for punitive damages by showing the defendant discriminated in the face of a perceived risk that its actions would violate federal law. The reduction of co-plaintiff Mendez-Ayala's punitive damages is affirmed as grossly excessive under the BMW standard and in violation of due process limits.

Appellate Information

• Decided 02/24/2009
• Published 02/24/2009

Judges

• LIPEZ, Circuit Judge., Before LYNCH, Chief Judge, LIPEZ and HOWARD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Roberto Busó-Aboy, for appellants/cross-appellees., Eliezer Aldarondo-Ortiz, with whom Claudio Aliff-Ortiz was on brief, for appellees/cross-appellants.