Update: spanking bill is $1.7 million

Updating our Apr. 27 story, the jury awarded $500,000 “compensatory” and $1.2 million punitives. (AP, May 1). It’s that compensatory damages number that gets me: does anyone doubt that if plaintiff Janet Orlando collects that money, she’s better off than if she had never been paddled at all? Orlando had requested $1.2 million in compensatory […]

Updating our Apr. 27 story, the jury awarded $500,000 “compensatory” and $1.2 million punitives. (AP, May 1). It’s that compensatory damages number that gets me: does anyone doubt that if plaintiff Janet Orlando collects that money, she’s better off than if she had never been paddled at all? Orlando had requested $1.2 million in compensatory damages plus punitives.

2 Comments

  • Number me among the doubters that she’s “better off.”

    No doubt we could hold an auction and determine the going market rate for serious public humiliation — which might come in, these days, at under $500k. Heck, some people might pay for the privilege.

    But I suspect that any leap to the conclusion that this woman has been overcompensated will be taken mostly by people who are deeply skeptical of emotional distress recoveries in the first place.

    Me, I have no emotions. But I’ve met people who do, and they can be serious stuff.

  • “No doubt we could hold an auction and determine the going market rate for serious public humiliation — which might come in, these days, at under $500k. Heck, some people might pay for the privilege.”

    Which is exactly why the court should NOT be handing out money for this.