Punitive Damages by Juries in Florida: In Terrorem and in Reality

In recent years there have been numerous proposals for punitive damage reform. Proponents of such reform have often asserted that punitive damages are both common and exorbitant. In this Article, Professor Vidmar and Dr. Rose examine the validity of these and other empirical claims about punitive damages. They do so by studying punitive damage awards reported in the Florida Jury Verdict Reporter. Ultimately, they conclude that there is no empirical support for the claims made by proponents of tort refrom in Florida