Supreme Court Ruling Depletes Punitive Damages' Moral and Deterrent Impact
Justice Holmes's bad man concept separates law from morality, viewing punitive damages as a mere financial obligation rather than a moral judgment. The Supreme Court's decision in Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker solidified this view, depleting the traditional purposes of punitive damages for punishment and deterrence. This shift undermines the policy and constitutionality of punitive damages, removing their moral basis and specific deterrence goals.