Miranda DITULLIO, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Josef F. BOEHM, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 10-36012.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Filed Nov. 7, 2011.
662 F.3d 1091
Argued and Submitted July 25, 2011.
III. Fifth Amendment
A full and fair hearing is one of the due process rights afforded to aliens in deportation proceedings. See Getachew v. INS, 25 F.3d 841, 845 (9th Cir.1994). A court will grant a petition on due process grounds only if the proceeding was “so fundamentally unfair that the alien was prevented from reasonably presenting his case.” Ibarra-Flores v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 614, 620 (9th Cir.2006); see Baliza v. INS, 709 F.2d 1231, 1233 (9th Cir.1983) (“[T]he only limitation upon its procedure [is] that a hearing, though summary, must be fair.“) (quoting Navarrette-Navarrette v. Landon, 223 F.2d 234, 237 (9th Cir. 1955)). An alien bears the burden of proving the alleged violation prejudiced his or her interests. See United States v. Cerda-Pena, 799 F.2d 1374, 1378-79 (9th Cir. 1986).
The IJ did not violate Gutierrez‘s due process rights by excluding the telephonic testimony of three witnesses because, in addition to the untimeliness of the request, there were other witnesses present and prepared to testify in person as to the same character evidence. Gutierrez failed to show that he was prejudiced by the exclusion of these witnesses. Additionally, petitioner‘s reliance on Zolotukhin v. Gonzales, 417 F.3d 1073 (9th Cir.2005), is misplaced because the excluded telephonic testimony in this case was not from uniquely qualified expert witnesses and others with specific and noncumulative testimony, but rather from witnesses who planned to testify to Gutierrez‘s good moral character and continuous presence in the United States, which were the same types of evidence nine other witnesses were prepared to provide. Gutierrez had an opportunity to fully present his case. Accordingly, no due process violation occurred.
Gutierrez alleges that the IJ erred in drawing an adverse inference when he invoked the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when asked if he was driving on a suspended license. This claim lacks merit. The IJ was permitted to draw an adverse inference when Gutierrez refused to answer whether he was driving on a suspended license. See United States ex rel. Bilokumsky v. Tod, 263 U.S. 149, 154-55, 44 S.Ct. 54, 68 L.Ed. 221 (1923). In a deportation hearing there is no prohibition against drawing an adverse inference when a petitioner invokes his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. See id.; United States v. Alderete-Deras, 743 F.2d 645, 647 (9th Cir. 1984). Accordingly, there was no Fifth Amendment violation.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the petition for review is DENIED in part and DISMISSED in part.
W. Sherman Ernouf, Law Offices of Ernouf and Coffey, P.C., Anchorage, Alaska, for the defendant-appellee.
Before: BETTY B. FLETCHER, ANDREW J. KLEINFELD, and CONSUELO M. CALLAHAN, Circuit Judges.
Opinion by Judge B. FLETCHER; Dissent by Judge CALLAHAN.
OPINION
B. FLETCHER, Circuit Judge:
In November 2004, appellee Josef Boehm pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in human trafficking, and admitted that between 2001 and December 22, 2003, he conspired with others to provide controlled substances to several minors and recruited them to engage in sexual activity. Appellant Miranda Ditullio alleges that she is one of the victims identified in Boehm‘s plea agreement and seeks compensatory and punitive damages under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act,
After denying Ditullio‘s motion for summary judgment, and Boehm‘s motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, the district court certified an interlocutory appeal on two questions of first impression: (1) whether the TVPA permits recovery of punitive damages, and (2) whether the TVPA‘s civil action provision,
I.
When it enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, Congress declared that the purposes of the TVPA are to “combat trafficking in persons, a contemporary manifestation of slavery whose victims are predominantly women and children, to ensure just and effective punishment of traffickers, and to protect their victims.” Pub.L. No. 106-386, § 102, 114 Stat. 1488 (2000) (codified as amended at
recruit[], entice[], harbor[], transport[], provide[ ], obtain[ ] or maintain[] by any means a person ... knowing, or in reckless disregard of the fact, that means of force, threats of force, fraud, coercion ... or any combination of such means will be used to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act.
An individual who is a victim of a violation ... may bring a civil action against the perpetrator (or whoever knowingly benefits, financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture which that person knew or should have known has engaged in an act in violation of this chapter) in an appropriate district court of the United States and may recover damages and reasonable attorneys fees.
II.
In November 2004, Boehm pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children in violation of
Beginning in late 2001 and continuing until December 22, 2003, BOEHM con-
spired with BOLLING, WILLIAMS, and TYREE to recruit persons under 18 (“juveniles“) to engage in sexual acts. The juveniles were recruited by offering them cocaine, which was manufactured outside of Alaska and effected interstate commerce. ... The following juveniles were knowingly recruited by the defendants to engage in sex: S.P., E.A., J.M., K.W., L.H., C.R., L.B., and M.D. These juveniles had sex with one or more of the defendants, and received money and/or controlled substances from the defendants. The defendants knew the juveniles ages when they recruited the juveniles. To effect the purposes of the conspiracy, the defendant purchased cocaine and distributed cocaine to one or more juveniles, including S.P. in or about the fall of 2001.
(emphasis added).
Ditullio filed suit in federal district court in June 2009, and amended her complaint in October 2009. She alleged involuntary servitude in violation of the Thirteenth Amendment, violations of the TVPA, sexual assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Ditullio moved for summary judgment on Boehm‘s liability for compensatory and punitive damages. She attached to the motion a copy of Boehm‘s 2004 plea agreement and an affidavit.
Ditullio declared that she is the victim identified by the initials “M.D.” in Boehm‘s plea agreement. She claims to have first met Boehm in the fall of 2002 when she was fifteen years old. Ditullio claims that Boehm gave her crack cocaine “on a daily basis so that Mr. Boehm could have his way with me at any given time” and that she lived with him in order to obtain drugs on a regular basis. She declares that Boehm enticed her with drugs to perform sexual acts on others, including his co-conspirators and other female victims. Ditullio also claims that she became pregnant in 2003, and that Boehm could be the father of the child (who was taken into state custody due to Ditullio‘s drug addiction). Ditullio states that she “suffered severe emotional upset” and has been unable to maintain steady employment as a result of Boehm‘s actions. In reply, Boehm generally denied Ditullio‘s allegations and argued that her affidavit should be stricken, but offered no contradictory evidence.
The district court denied Ditullio‘s motion for partial summary judgment, despite its acknowledgment that the affidavit and plea agreement together established that Ditullio was a victim of sex trafficking and Boehm was the perpetrator. The district court concluded that “because § 1595 imposed a new form of civil damages on defendants who violated § 1591 and Congress did not indicate that it intended § 1595 to apply retroactively, the presumption against retroactivity applies.” (citing Landgraf v. USI Film Products, 511 U.S. 244, 269, 114 S.Ct. 1483, 128 L.Ed.2d 229 (1994)). The district court stated that “there is no evidence on the record showing that Ditullio was a victim of Boehm‘s sex trafficking after December 19, 2003,” although the plea agreement established that Boehm and his co-conspirators engaged in sex trafficking until “at least December 22, 2003.” Accordingly, Ditullio was not entitled to summary judgment on the liability issue. The district court also rejected Ditullio‘s motion for summary judgment on her claim for punitive damages, stating that “Ditullio fails to cite any authority for the proposition that punitive damages are available under
Boehm then moved to dismiss under
The district court granted Ditullio‘s motion to certify these issues of first impression for interlocutory appeal. We have jurisdiction under
The availability of punitive damages is reviewed de novo. Hangarter v. Provident Life and Accident Ins. Co., 373 F.3d 998, 1013 (9th Cir.2004). Whether a statute may be applied retroactively is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. Saravia-Paguada v. Gonzales, 488 F.3d 1122, 1129 n. 10 (9th Cir.2007).
III.
The district court concluded, without analysis, that punitive damages are not available under the TVPA. The TVPA‘s civil remedy provision provides that a victim “may recover damages and reasonable attorneys fees” in a civil action against the perpetrator.
In Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools, 503 U.S. 60, 62-63, 112 S.Ct. 1028, 117 L.Ed.2d 208 (1992). The plaintiff in Franklin alleged that she had been sexually harassed by a high school teacher. Id. at 63, 112 S.Ct. 1028. The Court reasoned, “absent clear direction to the contrary by Congress, the federal courts have the power to award any appropriate relief in a cognizable cause of action brought pursuant to a federal statute.” Id. at 70-71, 112 S.Ct. 1028.
In tort cases, punitive damages are “awarded against a person to punish him for his outrageous conduct and to deter
The Supreme Court has looked to the common law to determine the remedies available under federal statutes creating causes of action sounding in tort. The Court has applied common law principles and found that punitive damages are available under
Looking to the common law, the Supreme Court concluded that punitive damages are available in actions under § 1983 in Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 103 S.Ct. 1625, 75 L.Ed.2d 632 (1983). Smith was a guard at a Missouri juvenile corrections facility. Id. at 32, 103 S.Ct. 1625. Wade,4 an inmate at the facility, alleged that Smith violated the Eighth Amendment when he placed Wade in a cell with other inmates who harassed, beat and sexually assaulted him. Id. Wade obtained a jury verdict of $25,000 in compensatory damages and $5,000 in punitive damages. Id. at 33, 103 S.Ct. 1625. Smith appealed the award of punitive damages arguing that they were improper absent a showing of intentional misconduct. Id. at 33, 37, 103 S.Ct. 1625. The Court stated that “although the precise issue of the availability of punitive damages under § 1983 has never come squarely before us, we have had occasion more than once to make clear our view that they are available.” Id. at 35, 103 S.Ct. 1625. Explaining its analysis in prior cases, the Court noted the limited legislative history for § 1983 and said “In the absence of more specific guidance, we look first to the common law of torts ... with such modification or adaption as might be necessary to carry out the purpose and policy of the statute.” Id. at 34, 103 S.Ct. 1625 (emphasis added).
The Court also explained that the common law of torts “provide[s] the appropriate starting point for the [damages] inquiry under § 1983” in Carey v. Piphus, 435 U.S. 247, 257-58, 98 S.Ct. 1042, 55 L.Ed.2d 252 (1978). See also Hague v. Comm. for Indus. Org., 101 F.2d 774, 789 (3d Cir.1939) modified on other grounds 307 U.S. 496, 59 S.Ct. 954, 83 L.Ed. 1423 (1939) (action for loss of political rights “sounds in tort and the jury may award exemplary or punitive damages“). Similarly, in Basista v. Weir, the Third Circuit explained that in a § 1983 action, “the federal common law of damages commands the issue of damages.”4 340 F.2d 74, 87
As the Supreme Court has done to determine the scope of remedies available under federal statutes, we turn to common law principles to determine whether punitive damages are available under the TVPA civil action provision. We follow the “general rule” that we should award “any appropriate relief in a cognizable cause of action brought pursuant to a federal statute.” Franklin, 503 U.S. at 71, 112 S.Ct. 1028. Punitive damages are generally appropriate under the TVPA civil remedy provision because it creates a cause of action for tortious conduct that is “do no more than identify the scope of the remedy Congress itself has provided” from the impermissible invocation of “some broad-ranging common-law source for creating a cause of action.” Tex. Indus., Inc. v. Radcliff Materials, Inc., 451 U.S. 630, 645-46, 101 S.Ct. 2061, 68 L.Ed.2d 500 (1981).
We also note that the Supreme Court has held that punitive damages are not available under statutes enacted under Congress’ Spending Clause powers, unless the statute expressly provides for punitive damages. See Barnes v. Gorman, 536 U.S. 181, 186-90, 122 S.Ct. 2097, 153 L.Ed.2d 230 (2002). Barnes is inapplicable to the TVPA, which Congress enacted under its Commerce Clause powers. See
ordinarily intentional and outrageous. A plaintiff bringing a civil action under the TVPA must prove that the defendant has engaged in human trafficking, which Congress described as “a contemporary manifestation of slavery.” Pub.L. No. 106-386, § 102, 114 Stat. 1488 (2000) (codified as amended at
IV.
Ditullio seeks to apply § 1595 to conduct that straddles its December 19, 2003 effective date. While the bulk of the
The Supreme Court has recognized a “time honored presumption [that] unless Congress has clearly manifested its intent to the contrary,” “the legal effect of conduct should ordinarily be assessed under the law that existed when the conduct took place.” Hughes Aircraft Co. v. United States, 520 U.S. 939, 946, 117 S.Ct. 1871, 138 L.Ed.2d 135 (1997) (quoting Landgraf v. USI Film Prods., 511 U.S. 244, 265, 268, 114 S.Ct. 1483, 128 L.Ed.2d 229 (1994)). “The aim of the presumption is to avoid unnecessary post hoc changes to legal rules on which parties relied in shaping their primary conduct.” Republic of Austria v. Altmann, 541 U.S. 677, 696, 124 S.Ct. 2240, 159 L.Ed.2d 1 (2004). Courts apply a two-step analysis “when an objection is made to applying a particular statute said to ... impose some burden on the basis of an act or event preceding the statute‘s enactment.” Fernandez-Vargas v. Gonzales, 548 U.S. 30, 37, 126 S.Ct. 2422, 165 L.Ed.2d 323 (2006). First, the court looks to “whether Congress has expressly prescribed the statute‘s proper reach.” Id. at 37, 126 S.Ct. 2422 (quoting Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 280, 114 S.Ct. 1483). If the answer to the first question is “yes,” the statute applies retroactively unless it runs afoul of the constitution. Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 280, 114 S.Ct. 1483. If the answer is “no,” the court “asks whether applying the statute to the person objecting would have a retroactive consequence in the disfavored sense.” Fernandez-Vargas, 548 U.S. at 37, 126 S.Ct. 2422. If so, the statute cannot apply retroactively absent a clear indication that Congress intended that result. Id. at 37-38, 126 S.Ct. 2422.
Congress did not expressly state that section 1595 applies to conduct pre-dating its enactment. Thus, the dispositive question is whether the provision has a “retroactive consequence.” Ditullio makes two arguments that it does not. First, she argues that “§ 1595 does not impose new consequences” because she could already recover damages from Boehm under state law. Second, Ditullio argues that her case arises out of a “continuing violation“—that is, that because she has alleged that Boehm engaged in prohibited conduct directed towards her after the TVPA‘s enactment, the statute does not actually affect conduct completed before the statute‘s enactment. These arguments are unavailing. We hold that § 1595 of the TVPA cannot be applied retroactively to conduct before December 19, 2003 because to do so would impose new burdens and consequences on Boehm for preenactment conduct.
a. Retroactive Consequence
“A statute does not operate ‘retrospectively’ merely because it is applied in a case arising from conduct antedating from the statute‘s enactment. ... Rather, the court must ask whether the new provision attaches new legal consequences to events completed prior to its enactment.” Landgraf, 511 U.S. at 269-70, 114 S.Ct. 1483 (internal citation omitted). The Supreme Court has emphasized that there is no test for when a statute attaches new legal consequences; rather it “is a matter on which judges tend to have sound instincts and familiar considerations of fair notice, reasonable reliance, and settled expectations offer sound guidance.” Id. at 270, 114 S.Ct. 1483. (internal quotation marks, alterations, and citation omitted).
Section 1595 creates a civil cause of action that permits victims of trafficking to recover compensatory and punitive damages from individuals who violate the TVPA.7 It changed substantive law and attached new legal burdens to violations of the TVPA. As a result, under Landgraf, section 1595 cannot apply retroactively to conduct that occurred before its effective date.
Ditullio argues that Alaska Statutes
b. “Continuing Violation” Theory
Ditullio next argues that because “Boehm admitted that his conduct continued past the effective date of § 1595,” the conduct was not completed before the statute took effect, and so the presumption against retroactivity is inapplicable. Ditullio relies on a line of immigration cases applying Landgraf to statutes whose retroactive application would interfere with vested rights. She argues that the party objecting to retroactive application of a statute must show reasonable reliance on the law as it existed prior to the new statute. See e.g., INS v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289, 121 S.Ct. 2271, 150 L.Ed.2d 347 (2001); Camins v. Gonzales, 500 F.3d 872 (9th Cir.2007). The issue in this case is whether retroactive application of § 1595 would create new liabilities under the TVPA, not whether it would interfere with vested rights, which is a separate line of analysis under Landgraf. See Fernandez-Vargas, 548 U.S. at 44 n. 10, 126 S.Ct. 2422 (distinguishing St. Cyr, “We understand Fernandez-Vargas’ claim as falling within the second categor[y] of retroactivity (new consequence of past acts), not the first category of canceling vested rights“). St. Cyr and its progeny are therefore inapposite.
The most analogous “continuing violation” cases consider employment discrimination that straddles the effective date of § 102 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. In Yamaguchi v. United States Dep‘t of the Air Force, 109 F.3d 1475 (9th Cir.1997), plaintiff brought a Title VII action, claiming sexual harassment by Clark, a male coworker, and sex discrimination based on her supervisor‘s failure to discipline Clark, her demotion, and her eventual termination. Id. at 1480. Some of the conduct occurred prior to the effective date of § 102, while some occurred after. This court held that, under Landgraf, Yamaguchi was “not entitled to compensatory damages and a jury trial for Clark‘s harassing conduct which occurred prior to November 21, 1991.” Id. at 1482. On the other hand, the court stated that “Clark‘s harassment was a ‘continuing violation’ which began prior to the effective date of the [Civil Rights Act] and continued thereafter.” Id. Thus, the court held, Yamaguchi “is entitled to pursue compensatory damages and a jury trial for post-November 21, 1991 conduct.” Id.
Under Yamaguchi, the continuing violation theory was not sufficient to overcome the Landgraf presumption against retroactivity for a provision creating new civil liabilities. This court‘s holding in Yamaguchi is consistent with cases in other circuits. See, e.g., Caviness v. Nucor-Yamato Steel Co., 105 F.3d 1216, 1218 (8th Cir.1997) (holding that the jury was erroneously instructed that it could award compensatory damages for illegal actions occurring before the effective date of § 102 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and remanding for a new trial); Tomasello v. Rubin, 167 F.3d 612, 619–20 (D.C.Cir.1999) (rejecting plaintiff‘s argument that a continuing violation permits recovery for pre-Nov. 21, 1991 acts, noting that it has only entertained a “continuing violation” theory when necessary to give effect to the statutory purpose); but see Place v. Abbott Lab., 215 F.3d 803, 807-08 (7th Cir.2000) (declining to opine on the viability of the continuing violation theory, but stating that plaintiffs’ allegations did not fit that mold); DeNovellis v. Shalala, 124 F.3d 298, 307 n. 4 (1st Cir.1997) (recognizing the viability of the theory but rejecting its application to plaintiff‘s case). Section 1595 is similar to the provision at issue in Yamaguchi. Both provisions create civil actions for conduct that was already illegal
For the foregoing reasons, we hold that § 1595 does not apply to pre-December 19, 2003 conduct. Permitting recovery for all of Boehm‘s alleged conduct would be an impermissible retroactive application of § 1595. No authority supports the position that a civil provision increasing liability for the entirety of a continuing violation does not have a retroactive consequence. This court‘s most analogous decision in Yamaguchi bars such retroactive application of a statute‘s damages provision.
V.
We reverse the district court‘s determination that punitive damages are unavailable under the TVPA. We affirm the district court‘s conclusion that § 1595 cannot be applied retroactively to create liability for conduct that occurred before December 19, 2003. Whether Boehm engaged in conduct with Ditullio that violates the TVPA after December 19, 2003 is a factual question to be resolved on remand.
The parties shall bear their owns costs on appeal.
REVERSED IN PART AND AFFIRMED IN PART
CALLAHAN, Circuit Judge, dissenting:
I agree with my colleagues that
The majority‘s reasoning is straightforward: (a) the statute is basically silent as to the availability of punitive damages; (b) punitive damages were allowed in common law when a tort was intentional and outrageous; (c) trafficking in humans almost by definition is intentional and outrageous; and (d) therefore a victim may seek punitive damages under § 1595.
The attraction of this approach is its simplicity. However, the Supreme Court‘s relevant opinions require a more sophisticated approach, one based on Congress‘s intent at the time the statute was enacted as well as an analysis of the law at that time.
The majority relies heavily on the Supreme Court‘s opinion in Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 103 S.Ct. 1625, 75 L.Ed.2d 632 (1983), in holding that it can look to the common law of torts to determine whether punitive damages are available under § 1595. It is true that Wade held that punitive damages are available under
Section 1983 is derived from the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Id. at 34-35, 103 S.Ct. 1625. The majority opinion in Wade, finding little evidence of Congress‘s intent in 1871, looked to common law as it then existed. Id. at 32, 103 S.Ct. 1625. The majority basically reasoned that under common law “the punitive damages doctrine” was “accepted as settled law.” However, then-Justice Rehnquist made a strong argument in his dissent that “a significant number of American jurisdictions refuse to condone punitive damage
Section 1595 was enacted as part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (“TVPA“) in 2000. Pub.L. No. 106-386, 114 Stat. 1464 (codified at
The first draft of the TVPA, dated November 22, 1999, provided a civil action for a violation of § 1589, stating “the court may award actual damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.” H.R.Rep. No. 106-487(I), at 7 (1999). A
In 2003, Congress reconsidered the TVPA in order to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005, as well as for “other purposes.” H.R.Rep. No. 108-264(II), at 1 (2003). At that time, Congress drafted a civil damages provision for the TVPA. The initial draft provided that a civil suit may be filed “in any appropriate district court of the United States [which] may award actual damages, punitive damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.” Id. at 5. However, when the revision was enacted, the TVPA civil remedy provisions allowed only for recovery of “damages and reasonable attorneys fees.”
This change may have resulted from a letter from the Department of Justice (DOJ) generally supporting the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003, but opposing the creation of a private right of action.3 H.R.Rep. No. 108-264(II), at 3. The DOJ‘s letter is the only listed commentary on the proposed punitive damages section in the House Report. It appears that Congress partially heeded DOJ‘s advice and created a private cause of action for damages and attorneys’ fees, but did not provide for punitive damages.4 In sum, a review of the TVPA‘s legislative history shows that far from deferring to federal common law, Congress in 2003, when it created a private cause of action under TVPA, considered and declined to
This Congressional decision should settle the matter even under Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 103 S.Ct. 1625. In Wade, the Court first noted that “there was little in [§ 1983‘s] legislative history concerning the damages recoverable for this tort liability.” Id. at 34, 103 S.Ct. 1625. It was only “[i]n the absence of more specific guidance,” that the Court “looked first to the common law of torts.” Id. See also Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools, 503 U.S. 60, 70-71, 112 S.Ct. 1028, 117 L.Ed.2d 208 (1992) (“absent clear direction to the contrary by Congress, the federal courts have the power to award any appropriate relief in a cognizable cause of action brought pursuant to a federal statute“). Here, there is “clear direction;” there is “more specific guidance.” In 2000 Congress considered creating a private cause of action including punitive damages and decided not to create a private cause of action at all. In 2003, Congress again considered creating a private cause of action including punitive damages, and this time did create a private cause of action but omitted the proposed language that allowed for punitive damages. We should abide by Congress‘s decision.
Finally, recognizing that Congress did not provide for punitive damages in § 1595 is consistent with a long-standing tenet of statutory interpretation. “[I]t is an elemental canon of statutory construction that where a statute expressly provides a particular remedy or remedies, a court must be chary of reading others into it.” Transamerica Mortg. Advisors, Inc. (TAMA) v. Lewis, 444 U.S. 11, 19, 100 S.Ct. 242, 62 L.Ed.2d 146 (1979); see also Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Ass‘n v. Swift Transp. Co., 632 F.3d 1111, 1121 (9th Cir.2011) (same); City of Colton v. American Promotional Events, Inc.-West, 614 F.3d 998, 1007 (9th Cir.2010) (same). Here, TVPA‘s legislative history shows that Congress deliberately limited civil remedies to compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees. We should not go further.
As then-Justice Rehnquist noted in his dissent in Wade, 461 U.S. at 57-59, 103 S.Ct. 1625, creating a claim for punitive damages raises concerns that are distinct from defining the scope of compensatory damages. Here, Congress implicitly recognized this when it enacted the TVPA and its provision for a civil remedy. Congress considered several drafts that included provisions for punitive damages, but ultimately, after being advised by DOJ of the problems inherent in the creation of a private cause of action, passed legislation that does not provide for punitive damages. I dissent because, regardless of the desirability of allowing for punitive damages under
Notes
A fundamental premise of our legal system is the notion that damages are awarded to compensate the victim—to redress the injuries that he or she actually has suffered. D. Dobbs, Remedies § 3.1 (1973); C. McCormick, The Law of Damages 1 (1935). In sharp contrast to this principle, the doctrine of punitive damages permits the award of “damages” beyond even the most generous and expansive conception of actual injury to the plaintiff. This anomaly is rationalized principally on three grounds. First, punitive damages “are assessed for the avowed purpose of visiting a punishment upon the defendant.” C. McCormick, Law of Damages 275 (1935) (emphasis added); D. Dobbs, Handbook of the Law of Remedies § 3.9, at 205 (1973); K. Redden, Punitive Damages, § 2.1 (1980); Electrical Workers v. Foust, 442 U.S. 42, 48, 99 S.Ct. 2121, 2125, 60 L.Ed.2d 698 (1979). Second, the doctrine is rationalized on the ground that it deters persons from violating the rights of others. Ibid. Third, punitive damages are justified as a “bounty” that encourages private lawsuits seeking to assert legal rights. Ibid.
Punitive damages are generally seen as a windfall to plaintiffs, who are entitled to receive full compensation for their injuries—but no more. Even assuming that a punitive “fine” should be imposed after a civil trial, the penalty should go to the state, not to the plaintiff—who by hypothesis is fully compensated. Moreover, although punitive damages are “quasi-criminal,” Huber v. Teuber, 10 D.C. 484, 490 (1877), their imposition is unaccompanied by the types of safeguards present in criminal proceedings. This absence of safeguards is exacerbated by the fact that punitive damages are frequently based upon the caprice and prejudice of jurors. Walther & Plein, Punitive Damages; A Critical Analysis, 49 Marq. L.Rev. 369 (1966).
461 U.S. at 57-59, 103 S.Ct. 1625.