State defends Indiana punitive damages law - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

State defends Indiana punitive damages law

Posted: Updated:
INDIANAPOLIS -

State attorneys are defending Indiana's punitive damages limit against a man who won a $150,000 jury award against a Roman Catholic priest he alleged sexually abused him when he was 17.

Lawyers for the attorney general's office asked the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday to set aside a Marion County judge's decision that ruled the law violated the state constitution.

Indiana's law limits punitive damages to $50,000 and allows the state to take a three-quarter share. 

Attorneys for the man referred to as John Doe say the law intrudes on judicial power and violates the right to trial by jury. 

The state argues that the justices previously upheld the law and since plaintiffs don't have an inherent right to punitive damages, the state can limit the amount and claim a share.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Powered by WorldNow
Links to the FCC website to view WTHR and/or WALV’s on-line public inspection files:
WTHR: https://stations.fcc.gov/station-profile/WTHR   ||   WALV: https://stations.fcc.gov/station-profile/WALV
Individuals with disabilities may contact Jill Pursell at publicfile@wthr.com, or 317.655.5602, for assistance with access to the public inspection files.
Powered by WorldNowAll content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTHR. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.