The Amount of Alcohol Consumed by Defendant and the Extent of His Intoxication at the Time of the Vehicle-Accident Evinced “Wanton and Reckless” Conduct Which Supported a Punitive-Damages Award

The Second Department determined the award of punitive damages by the jury was supported by clear and convincing evidence.  Defendant was intoxicated at the time of the vehicle accident.  The fact that defendant was driving while intoxicated would not, standing alone, warrant punitive damages. However, other factors, including defendant’s high blood-alcohol level and his “incoherence” at the time of the accident evinced the requisite “wanton and reckless” conduct:

Whereas compensatory damages are intended to assure that the victim receives “fair and just compensation commensurate with the injury sustained,” punitive damages are meant to “punish the tortfeasor and to deter this wrongdoer and others similarly situated from indulging in the same conduct in the future” … . Evidence that a defendant was driving while intoxicated is insufficient, standing alone, to justify the imposition of punitive damages … . However, driving while intoxicated may support an award for punitive damages where there is additional evidence that the defendant engaged in “wanton and reckless” conduct evincing heedlessness and an utter disregard for the safety of others … . Chiara v Dernago, 2015 NY Slip Op 04444, 2nd Dept 5-27-15