Funktion und Dogmatik US-amerikanischer punitive damages

The author explains the concept of punitive damages and traces this common law doctrine back to its early English origins. Elaborating on the seminal role of jury discretion, she gives reasons why punitive damages have survived and what modern needs this doctrine satisfies. She describes the development of this common law doctrine in US history and evaluates modern reforms. She gives an overview of its present application and analyzes the leading cases. In order to get hold of a lawbreaker who otherwise might succeed in evading the legal system the jury in a given case may have the right to award punitive damages. In this instance the jury exercises the power to punish offenders and acts as a responsible instrument of government. From the German point of view punitive damages can not be seen as a civil matter and they infringe on the German ordre public. The author comes to the conclusion that punitive awards cannot be enforced in Germany, nor can the documents pertaining to these be served with the help of German agencies.