On the recordMarch 9, 1995
I strongly believe along with many of my colleagues that tort reform must address the serious abuses that occur in the area of punitive awards for non-economic damages. On this subject, I seek a balance that takes into account important but diverse interests. We must protect against awards that bear no reasonable relation to the injury and threaten the economic integrity of our profit and non-profit enterprises. We must also permit sufficient discretion to ensure that injuries are compensated in full. In this regard, I continue to believe that while arbitrary caps on punitive damages in all instances are to be avoided, this legislation begins an important process in curbing the worst excesses of the current tort system. In the future, I propose that we address additional amendments that will take into account extraordinary circumstances warranting adjustments to those otherwise generous caps.
Source
govinfo.gov
