Section 510.265

Title XXXV CIVIL PROCEDURE AND LIMITATIONS

Chapter 510

Effective - 28 Aug 2020, 2 histories   

  510.265.  Limitations on punitive damages in certain cases. — 1.  No award of punitive damages against any defendant shall exceed the greater of:

  (1)  Five hundred thousand dollars; or

  (2)  Five times the net amount of the judgment awarded to the plaintiff against the defendant.

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Such limitations shall not apply if the state of Missouri is the plaintiff requesting the award of punitive damages, or the defendant pleads guilty to or is convicted of a felony arising out of the acts or omissions pled by the plaintiff.

  2.  The provisions of this section and sections 510.261 and 510.263 shall not apply to civil actions brought under section 213.111 that allege a violation of section 213.040, 213.045, 213.050, or 213.070, to the extent that the alleged violation of section 213.070 relates to or involves a violation of section 213.040, 213.045, or 213.050, or subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of section 213.070 as it relates to housing.

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(L. 2005 H.B. 393, A.L. 2020 S.B. 591)

CROSS REFERENCE:

Applicability of statute changes for cases filed after August 28, 2005, 538.305; for cases filed after August 28, 2020, 510.262

(2014) Section's cap on punitive damage awards is unconstitutional under Article I, Section 22 (a) of Missouri Constitution; right to a jury trial in 1820 included right to have a jury determine amount of punitive damages in an action for fraud.  Lewellen v. Franklin, 441 S.W.3d 136 (Mo.banc).