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39 Vill. L. Rev. 363 (1994)
A Punitive Damages Overview: Functions, Problems and Reform

handle is hein.journals/vllalr39 and id is 375 raw text is: 1994] A PUNITIVE DAMAGES OVERVIEW: FUNCTIONS, PROBLEMS AND REFORM DAvD G. OWEN* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. NATURE AND SOURCES OF PUNITrVE DAMAGES .......... 364 A. General Principles .................................. 364 B. H istory ............................................ 368 C. Controversial Nature of Punitive Damages ............ 370 1. In General ..................................... 370 2. Tort Reform-Rhetoric and Reality ............... 371 II. FUNCrIONS OF PUNITVE DAMAGES ..................... 373 A. General Principles .................................. 373 B. Specific Functions ................................... 374 1. Education ...................................... 374 2. Retribution ..................................... 375 3. Deterrence ...................................... 377 4. Compensation ................................... 378 5. Law Enforcement ................................ 380 III. THE CRITICISMS CRITIQUED ............................ 382 A. Confusion of Tort and Criminal Law ................. 382 B. Vagueness Generating Unprincipled Awards ........... 384 C. Misdirection of Punishments and Rewards ............ 389 D. Social Harm from Excessive Punishment .............. 396 IV. REFORM PROPOSALS ................................... 400 A. Constitutional Reform ............................... 401 B. Legislative and Judicial Reform ...................... 407 V. CONCLUSION .......................................... 413 * James Byrnes Research Scholar & Professor of Tort Law, University of South Carolina. Gerald Boston and Michael Rustad provided valuable comments on an earlier draft, Mary McCormick lent helpful research support, and Stephanie John- ston provided meticulous editorial assistance. Fearful that the cure [might be] worse than the disease, Phillip Massinger, The Bondman, Act I, Scene 1, I chose not to ask Pat Hubbard for his thoughts. (363)