Utah Punitive damages are a form of damages awarded to an injured party in a civil lawsuit. Punitive damages are awarded in addition to other forms of damages, such as compensatory damages, and are intended to punish the defendant for gross negligence or intentional wrong-doing. In the state of Utah, punitive damages are available in cases where the defendant's conduct is particularly egregious, and are meant to serve as a deterrent to similar behavior. There are two types of punitive damages available in Utah: “exemplary” and “aggravated” punitive damages. Exemplary damages are designed to punish the defendant for conduct that is particularly outrageous, while aggravated punitive damages are used to punish the defendant for conduct that is especially malicious or oppressive.