13.72 DAMAGES: PUNITIVE (42 U.S.C. CIV. 1983) is a type of damages awarded to a plaintiff in a civil case as a form of punishment for the defendant's misconduct. This type of damages is intended to deter the defendant from engaging in similar conduct in the future. Punitive damages are authorized under the civil rights statute 42 U.S.C. CIV. 1983, which provides for damages against a person who has violated another person's civil rights. The types of punitive damages awarded in a civil rights case may include compensatory damages, treble damages, exemplary damages, and costs and attorney's fees.