>It is underhanded because, at the very least, it violates an expected principle of the civil suit system. This signals that the goal of the suit is not to comp

>It is underhanded because, at the very least, it violates an expected principle of the civil suit system. This signals that the goal of the suit is not to compensate Hulk for damages, but to put Gawker out of business. I'm genuinely curious, where did you learn that the only goal of the civil suit system is to compensate the damaged party? It would seem odd to me that punitive damages would be a thing that exists, distinct from compensatory damages, if they're not meant to be a part of the system. I don't see how there was an "expected principle" of that at all. >Punitive damages or exemplary damages are damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit. Although the purpose of punitive damages is not to compensate the plaintiff, the plaintiff will receive all or some portion of the punitive damage award.