Townsend won a lawsuit against Hardwick for intentionally inflicting emotional distress. The jury awarded Townsend $500,000 in compensatory damages. It also awarded Townsend $4 million in punitive damages because Wickson was quite wealthy and the jury thought a large amount was necessary for Wickson to feel the punishing effects of the judgment. How does the jury's award fit into the guidelines offered by the U.S. Supreme Court?
a. The punitive award is excessive because the Supreme Court has stated that the trial court may not use the defendant's wealth as an excuse to award an unreasonably high award.
b. The punitive award is excessive both because of the ratio of compensatory damages to punitive damages and because the punitive damage award was based partly on the defendant's wealth.
c. The jury award is not excessive based on the Supreme Court's guidelines.
d. The punitive award is excessive because it exceeds the Supreme Court's suggested ratio of compensatory damages to punitive damages.
Answer: A
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