12.72 DAMAGES: PUNITIVE (42 U.S.C. CIV. 1983) is a type of damages awarded by a court to punish a defendant for their intentional or reckless behavior. This type of damages is authorized under 42 U.S.C. Civil 1983, which grants the right to seek relief in federal court for a deprivation of constitutional rights. Punitive damages are meant to deter similar conduct in the future by making the defendant pay a significant amount of money as a penalty. Punitive damages are awarded on top of compensatory damages, which are designed to cover any losses suffered by the plaintiff. There are two types of punitive damages: exemplary and punitive damages. Exemplary damages are designed to punish and deter the defendant from similar behavior, while punitive damages are meant to make the defendant pay for their malicious or reckless behavior.