Punitive Damages Reform: AB 307 (1989). - ATRA

Punitive Damages Reform: AB 307 (1989).

| November 6, 2016

Limits punitive damages awards to $300,000, where the award for

Limits punitive damages awards to $300,000, where the award for compensatory damages is less than $100,000, and to three times the award for compensatory damages, where the award for compensatory damages is $100,000 or more. The reform does not apply to cases against a manufacturer, distributor, or seller of a defective product; an insurer who acts in bad faith; a person violating housing discrimination laws; a person involved in a case for damages caused by toxic, radioactive, or hazardous waste; or a person for defamation. Requires a plaintiff to show by “clear and convincing evidence” that a defendant acted with “oppression, fraud, or malice.” Requires the determination of awards for punitive damages to be made in a separate proceeding. Permits the admissibility of evidence of a defendant’s finances only during the proceeding for the determination of punitive damages.

Latest News

View all news

Lawsuit Advertising Frenzy Fuels Georgia’s Litigation Epidemic

Law Firms Spent $168M+ on 2.2M Ads in Georgia

<img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />

Trial Lawyers’ Dual Grip on Pennsylvania Politics and Public Opinion Revealed in New ATRA Reports

ATRA’s Latest Studies Reveal Financial Influence and Lack of Transparency in Pennsylvania’s Campaign Finance Systems

<img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />

Reports Reveal Influence of Trial Lawyers on New Jersey’s Legal Landscape

Two New Reports Analyze Legal Services Advertising Trends and Campaign Contributions

<img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />

California Trial Lawyers’ Influence on Legal Landscape Exposed

Two New Reports Unveil Disturbing Trends in Legal Services Advertising and Plaintiffs’ Firms’ Political Contributions

<img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />

New Reports Expose Trial Lawyers’ Grip on Nevada Politics and Legal Advertising Trends

In-depth analysis unveils trial lawyers’ staggering advertising and political spending, exposing tactics used to shape public opinion and legal outcomes.

<img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" alt="" decoding="async" data-src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="500" height="250" src="https://www.atra.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/ATRA-PR-for-WordPress-500x250.png" class="attachment-masonry size-masonry wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />

Explosive New Reports Uncover Shocking Trends in Legal Advertising and Campaign Contributions in New York State

ATRA’s Latest Reports Reveal the Deep Ties Between Trial Lawyers and New York Politics