California Supreme Court Adopts 1:1 Ratio for Punitive Damages
On November 30, 2009, the California Supreme Court held in Roby v. McKesson Corporation, et al. that a punitive damage to compensatory damage ratio of one-to-one is the U.S. Constitutional maximum permissible under the Due Process Clause where the compensatory damage award is substantial.
Plaintiff Charlene Roby brought wrongful discharge and harassment claims against her former employer, McKesson Corporation ("McKesson"). The jury awarded her $3,511,000 in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages. After finding that the appropriate compensatory award was approximately $1,900,000, the Supreme Court turned to whether the punitive damage award which had already been reduced to $2 million by the Court of Appeal was excessive.
The Court first analyzed the reprehensibility of McKesson's conduct through the following factors:
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