Punitive damages are damages assessed in the legal process to punish a defendant for negligence. The defendant is usually a company or other large entity. Individuals can also be ordered to pay punitive damages that injure someone else due to negligent behavior. They usually imposed to make an example of the negligent party to deter others from behaving in the same fashion or committing similar wrongful behavior.

1. How do recent cases in the Supreme Court view them generally?
2. What standard must punitive damages meet to be assessable?