PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF the COLUMBIA/WILLAMETTE INC.; Portland Feminist Women's Health Center; Robert Crist, M.D.; Warren M. Hern, M.D.; Elizabeth Newhall, M.D.; James Newhall, M.D., Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
AMERICAN COALITION OF LIFE ACTIVISTS; Advocates for Life Ministries; Michael Dodds; Timothy Paul Dreste; Joseph L. Foreman; Bruce Evan Murch; Donald Treshman; Charles Wysong; Michael Bray; Andrew Burnett; David Crane; Charles Roy McMillan; Catherine Ramey; Dawn Marie Stover, Defendants-Appellants.
No. 04-35214.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted July 12, 2005.
Filed September 6, 2005.
COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED Edward L. White III, Thomas More Law Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, for Bray, Burnett, Crane, McMillan, Ramey, and Stover, defendants-appellants, and Christopher A. Ferrara, American Catholic Lawyers Ass'n., Fairfield, NJ, for American Coalition of Life Activists, Advocates for Life Ministries, Dodds, Dreste, Foreman, Murch, Treshman and Wysong, for the defendants-appellants.
Maria T. Vullo, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, NY, for the plaintiffs-appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon; Robert E. Jones, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CV-95-01671-REJ.
Before FERNANDEZ, RYMER, and KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges.
RYMER, Circuit Judge.
American Coalition of Life Activists and thirteen others (collectively, ACLA)1 appeal the decision of the district court on remand that the $108.5 million in punitive damages awarded by a jury in 1999 for violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), 18 U.S.C. § 248, comports with due process. Planned Parenthood of Columbia/Willamette, Inc. v. American Coalition of Life Activists,
* On October 26, 1995, four individual physicians and two clinics3 brought an action against ACLA for violating or conspiring to violate FACE4 and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968. The facts are fully described in the district court's post-trial opinion, PPCW III,
The jury found for physicians on all counts except against Bray and Treshman on the RICO claims (ACLA was alleged to be the RICO enterprise and was not a defendant on this claim). It awarded Crist $39,656 in compensatory damages under FACE; Hern, $14,429; E. Newhall, $15,797.98; J. Newhall, $375; PPCW, $405,834.86; and PFWHC, $50,243.30, for a total of $526,336.14. The jury grouped defendants into different tiers for purposes of exemplary damages: ACLA and ALM were each found liable to Crist for $2.25 million; to Hern for $1.5 million; to E. Newhall for $2 million; to J. Newhall for $2 million; to PPCW for $6 million; and to PFWHC for $3 million. Bray, Burnett, Crane, McMillan, Treshman and Wysong were each found liable to Crist for $1 million; to Hern for $1 million; to E. Newhall for $1 million; to J. Newhall for $1 million; to PPCW for $2 million; and to PFWHC for $2 million. Dodds, Dreste, Foreman, and Murch were each found liable to Crist for $750,000; to Hern for $750,000; to E. Newhall for $750,000; to J. Newhall for $750,000; to PPCW for $1 million; and to PFWHC for $1 million. And Ramey and Stover were each found liable to Crist for $500,000; to Hern for $500,000; to E. Newhall for $500,000; to J. Newhall for $500,000; to PPCW for $750,000; and to PFWHC for $750,000. RICO damages were awarded in varying amounts and were trebled pursuant to statute. A chart summarizing the damages award appears in Appendix I. Following trial, the district court made extensive findings and ordered permanent injunctive relief. PPCW III,
ACLA appealed the judgment, which this court affirmed on rehearing en banc in all respects but for punitive damages. PPCW V,
On remand, the district court held that the jury's compensatory awards were joint and several. It determined that ACLA's threats of violence were at the top of the hierarchy of reprehensibility, that a high ratio of punitive damages to compensatory damages was warranted because of particularly egregious conduct that resulted in injury that is difficult to quantify, and that the awards against each defendant were not excessive when compared to the civil penalties available for each violation of FACE. Therefore, it upheld the punitive award in its entirety. The district court denied a new trial and declined to consider additional issues raised by ACLA as beyond the scope of the mandate.
ACLA timely appealed.
II
ACLA argues that "the preposterous $109 million award" must be vacated and the punitive damages claim must be dismissed for failure to comply with any of the guideposts the Supreme Court laid out in BMW. Further, it submits that its conduct was a first offense that consisted of nothing more than publishing political communications for which liability was imposed without proof of reprehensibility by way of specific intent to threaten. Even if the verdict is not reversed, ACLA maintains that compensatory damages must be deemed sufficient punishment as the defendants cannot pay even that award and the injunction serves the aim of punishment and deterrence. It also contends that the punitive damages at most should not exceed the comparable civil penalties under FACE.
Physicians support the award by urging that a threats case is the type of case that falls at the top of the hierarchy of reprehensibility. They argue for a ratio analysis that, like the district court's, focuses on defendants' responsibility for damages.
The Supreme Court has considered the constitutional limits of punitive damages three times in the last ten years, first in BMW v. Gore, next in Cooper Industries, Inc. v. Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.,
(1) the degree of reprehensibility of the defendant's misconduct; (2) the disparity between the actual or potential harm suffered by the plaintiff and the punitive damages award; and (3) the difference between the punitive damages awarded by the jury and the civil penalties authorized or imposed in comparable cases.
Id. at 418,
We are obliged to review de novo the district court's application of the BMW guideposts to a jury's punitive damages awards. State Farm,
We start with BMW and post-BMW authorities to see how the due process analysis has played out in other cases, and to shed light on what might be deemed excessive in this particular case.
In BMW, a disgruntled new car owner brought an action against several defendants for their failure to disclose that the automobile he purchased had been repainted after being damaged prior to delivery. The jury awarded Gore $4,000 in compensatory damages and $4,000,000 in punitive damages (later reduced by the Alabama Supreme Court to $2,000,000). Of the three guideposts that it embraced, the United States Supreme Court said that "[p]erhaps the most important indicium of the reasonableness of a punitive damages award is the degree of reprehensibility of the defendant's conduct." BMW,
In Swinton v. Potomac Corp.,
Exxon Valdez involved the appeal of a $5 billion punitive damages award arising out of an oil spill in Prince William Sound. The jury awarded $287 million in compensatory damages, and the district court determined that the total harm could range from $288.7 million to $418.7 million. However, as Exxon had settled with the government for environmental harm and had instituted a program to repay property owners, the verdict and punitive damages award challenged on appeal were only for damages to economic expectations of commercial fishermen. Applying the BMW guideposts, we agreed that Exxon's conduct was reprehensible because it knew of the risk of an oil spill yet left the ship in the hands of an alcoholic who was drinking. While this justified punitive damages, we thought Exxon was less reprehensible than in other punitive damages cases because it did not spill the oil on purpose or kill anyone. We noted that a ratio of 17.42 to 1 (based on the jury's verdict) or 12 to 1 (using the upper limits of the district court's estimate of actual harm) was greatly above the 4 to 1 ratio that the Supreme Court "called `close to the line'" in Haslip. Exxon Valdez,
Following remand from the Supreme Court, in Leatherman,
The Supreme Court again considered the constitutional limits of punitive damages in State Farm,
the harm caused was physical as opposed to economic; the tortious conduct evinced an indifference to or a reckless disregard of the health or safety of others; the target of the conduct had financial vulnerability; the conduct involved repeated actions or was an isolated incident; and the harm was the result of intentional malice, trickery, or deceit, or mere accident. The existence of any one of these factors weighing in favor of a plaintiff may not be sufficient to sustain a punitive damages award; and the absence of all of them renders any award suspect. It should be presumed a plaintiff has been made whole for his injuries by compensatory damages, so punitive damages should only be awarded if the defendant's culpability, after having paid compensatory damages, is so reprehensible as to warrant the imposition of further sanctions to achieve punishment or deterrence.
Id. at 419,
Zhang v. American Gem Seafoods, Inc.,
In Hangarter v. Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co.,
Finally, we reversed a $5 million punitive damages award in Bains LLC v. Arco Products Co.,
Informed by these analyses, we now apply the BMW guide-posts to this case.
* Degree of Reprehensibility
ACLA argues generally that it is being punished by the district court's injunction. It asserts that compensatory damages are punishment enough, and that in any event it cannot afford to pay the compensatory fines, so punitive damages would serve no purpose. It contends that the district court failed to make findings as to the reprehensible conduct of each defendant as it is required to do, see Bell v. Clackamas County,
We dispose at the outset of ACLA's invitation to revisit both the district court's findings, and our conclusions on rehearing en banc, about its subjective intent to harm physicians. Suffice it to say, we held en banc that ACLA made a true threat, i.e., a threat where a reasonable person would foresee that the listener will believe he will be subjected to physical violence, with the intent to intimidate physicians. This is what FACE requires, PPCW V,
Physical or economic harm. There was a physical component to ACLA's conduct, in that it was intended to intimidate by causing fear of murder or serious bodily injury on account of the poster pattern, and it actually caused emotional distress. There also was an economic component, in that ACLA's intention was for the same fear to drive physicians away from their practices, and they actually incurred expenses (primarily for security). To the extent the actual harm was economic, this factor weighs somewhat in ACLA's favor, but as the intimidation relied upon a physical aspect as well, it does not clearly cut either way.
Indifference to health or safety. In physicians' view, the conduct to which they were subjected is the worst kind of tortious conduct a defendant can commit. See BMW,
Financial vulnerability. The district court found that physicians were financially vulnerable, presumably because their livelihoods depended upon their practices. ACLA targeted their practices and intentionally tried to scare them into quitting. Crist actually stopped practicing for a while out of fear for his life. As BMW indicates, "infliction of economic injury, especially when done intentionally through affirmative acts of misconduct, or when the target is financially vulnerable, can warrant a substantial penalty."
Recidivism. ACLA contends that this is a "first offense" for threats, which is true so far as it goes. Neither ACLA nor any of its co-defendants had ever been found liable for, or convicted of, violating FACE, but they have histories of unlawful conduct with respect to anti-abortion activities. More importantly, the threats against physicians were true threats because of the pattern of previous violence that followed in the wake of identifying other doctors who performed abortions on "WANTED"-type posters and the Nuremberg Files. Indeed, ACLA was formed because ALM, Bray, Burnett, Crane, Foreman, McMillan, Ramey and Stover espoused a "pro-force" point of view. While "[a] defendant should be punished for the conduct that harmed the plaintiff, not for being an unsavory individual or business," State Farm,
Intentional malice or accident. As we have explained, physicians were not harmed by accident. ACLA acted intentionally to intimidate them by making true threats of serious injury.
In sum, while ACLA justifies its conduct as political speech that cannot be reprehensible, we have already held that FACE prohibits the specific conduct in which it chose to engage and that true threats of the sort ACLA made in order to intimidate physicians are not protected under the First Amendment. As true threats of violence were made with the intent to intimidate, ACLA's conduct is on the high side of reprehensibility. We do not put it on the top rung because it did not involve actual violence with respect to these physicians. However, ACLA did what it did knowing that physicians would believe that what had happened to others who had been identified on posters would happen to them, that is, that they would be killed, and that this would frighten them into quitting their practice rather than risk suffering the same fate as Dr. Gunn, Dr. Patterson, and Dr. Britton who had been struck down in the wake of being identified on "WANTED"-type posters. Physicians in fact interpreted the posters as intended, and Crist did in fact quit. This is far more egregious than not disclosing that a new car has been repainted, as in BMW, and is much closer to treading on personal liberty, which we found seriously reprehensible in discrimination cases such as Swinton, Zhang, and Bains. Thus, we conclude that ACLA's intentional intimidation of physicians, aimed at forcing them to quit practicing out of fear for their lives, weighs heavily in favor of physicians; that none of the other factors is negative, even though not strongly positive; and that on balance, ACLA's conduct is sufficiently reprehensible to warrant the imposition of significant sanctions to punish and deter.
B
Ratio
It is not easy to figure the ratio in this case. Unlike the post-BMW cases we have surveyed where there is one plaintiff and one defendant, here there are multiple plaintiffs and multiple defendants. The jury awarded each plaintiff the same amount of compensatory damages from each defendant. However, the district court held (and the parties do not dispute) that the awards are joint and several.5 By contrast, the jury awarded each plaintiff punitive damages in a discrete amount from each defendant. It was instructed to consider the degree of reprehensibility and the relationship of any award to the actual harm inflicted. From the verdict it is obvious that the jury found different levels of reprehensibility, and fixed the amount of the punitive damages awarded to each plaintiff from each defendant based on its assessment of each defendant's reprehensibility relative to other defendants and to each plaintiff.
Not surprisingly, the parties differ in their approach to the comparison that should be made to determine the applicable ratio. ACLA argues that the total compensatory damages recoverable by each plaintiff should be compared with the total punitive damages awarded to that plaintiff for the same alleged course of conduct by all defendants. Its rationale is that this would reflect the physicians' theory of the case as one course of conduct undertaken by all fourteen defendants based on the same three communications. ACLA's approach yields a ratio of 366 to 1 for Crist; 901 to 1 for Hern; 886 to 1 for E. Newhall; 37,333 to 1 for J. Newhall; 467 to 1 for PPCW; and 73 to 1 for PFWHC.
The district court rejected this approach for good reason. It fails to allow for the possibility that the reprehensibility of individual defendants can — and as the jury found here, does — differ. Also, it runs counter to the court's task of determining whether any or all of the defendants had their due process rights violated. Finally, to compare the amount of compensatory damages awarded to one plaintiff with the total amount of punitive damages awarded to that plaintiff from all defendants shifts the focus away from a particular defendant's conduct to the defendants' conduct en grosse. See, e.g., Bell,
Instead, the district court adopted physicians' approach and arrived at the ratios used for its BMW analysis by comparing the total joint and several liability of each defendant for compensatory damages ($526,336.14) with that defendant's liability for punitive damages. So calculated, by defendant, the ratios of punitive to compensatory damages are 31.8 to 1 for ACLA and ALM; 15.2 to 1 for Bray, Burnett, Crane, McMillan, Treshman, and Wysong; 9.5 to 1 for Dodds, Dreste, Foreman and Murch; and 6.6 to 1 for Ramey and Stover.6 A chart summarizing the district court's analysis is attached as Appendix II. This approach has the merit of focusing the due process analysis on liability from the defendant's perspective, but it does not differentiate on the basis of harm inflicted upon a particular plaintiff by a particular defendant, as a correct approach should also do. For this reason, it tends to produce an artificially low, overall ratio.
The district court considered, but declined to accept, a third approach that would compare each plaintiff's individual compensatory damages and punitive damages awards as to each defendant. A chart setting forth this analysis is attached as Appendix III. The court was troubled by the fact that this approach yields extreme variations in ratios, depending upon the amount of the compensatory award. Thus, ratios with respect to Crist would range from a high of 56.7 to 1 for ACLA and ALM to a low of 12.6 to 1 for Ramey and Stover. However, extreme variation is not so much a reason for rejecting an approach to determine the ratio, as for rejecting awards that are grossly disproportionate. Rather, in a multi-plaintiff, multi-defendant action, an approach that compares each plaintiff's individual compensatory damages with the punitive damages awards against each defendant more accurately reflects the true relationship between the harm for which a particular defendant is responsible, and the punitive damages assessed against that defendant.
This approach is preferable to that urged by physicians and adopted by the district court for several reasons. Merging the physicians' damages against a particular defendant as the district court did, rather than considering them on a plaintiff-by-plaintiff, defendant-by-defendant basis, has the distorting effect of making some ratios appear closer to a constitutional level than they truly are, while making others appear further from it than they really are. This is illustrated by how the analysis works out with two plaintiffs, Crist and J. Newhall, and two defendants, Wysong and Stover:
District Ct. Alternative
Defendant Compensatory Punitive Ratios Ratios
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wysong Crist: $39,656 Crist: $1m 50: 1 Crist: 25:1
Newhall: $375. Newhall: $1m Newhall: 2666.7: 1
Stover Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k 25: 1 Crist: 12.6: 1
Newhall: $375. Newhall: $500k Newhall: 1333.3: 1
Crist recovered higher compensatory damages ($39,656) than J. Newhall ($375). The jury awarded Crist $500,000 in punitive damages against Stover, and $1 million against Wysong; it awarded J. Newhall $500,000 in punitive damages against Stover, and $1 million against Wysong. Under the district court's approach, Crist's compensatory damages award was merged with J. Newhall's damages, and then the award of punitive damages for each of them against each defendant was also merged. On this take, Wysong's ratio for both Crist and J. Newhall is 50:1; Stover's for both is 25:1. By contrast, on a plaintiff-by-plaintiff, defendant-by-defendant basis, Wysong's ratio for Crist is 25:1 and for J. Newhall, 2666.7:1; Stover's ratio for Crist is 12.6:1 and for J. Newhall, 1333.3:1. A punitive damages award for Crist in the amount of $500,000 against Stover bears a somewhat reasonable relationship to the actual harm caused ($40,000), but the award in favor of J. Newhall is nowhere near the "reasonable relationship" that State Farm and BMW require. Thus, under physicians' approach, the punitive damages awards upheld as constitutional based on the ratio of the overall compensatory damages to the overall punitive damages for which a defendant is liable implicate the due process rights of defendants when broken down to the specific award on a per plaintiff, per defendant basis.
In addition, arriving at the ratio on a plaintiff-by-plaintiff, defendant-by-defendant basis respects the jury's verdict. The jury awarded punitive damages to each plaintiff from each defendant; it did not award punitive damages against each defendant as one lump sum.
Finally, it makes sense to compare each plaintiff's individual compensatory damages and punitive damages awards as to each defendant because this approach simplifies the task of assessing constitutional reasonableness. If it appears that the envelope is pushed too far, the reviewing court can figure out who is to receive what amount of money from whom, and remit on a per plaintiff, per defendant basis.
Accordingly, we accept the ratios (reflected in Appendix III) arrived at by comparing each plaintiff's individual compensatory damages and punitive damages awards as to each defendant. Having decided what the ratios are, the question is whether they pass constitutional muster. We think not.
Although the Supreme Court has eschewed any specific formula, we discern from BMW and its progeny a rough framework for evaluating whether there is a reasonable relationship between the punitive damages award and the actual or likely harm associated with the wrongful conduct. In cases where there are significant economic damages and punitive damages are warranted but behavior is not particularly egregious, a ratio of up to 4 to 1 serves as a good proxy for the limits of constitutionality. See, e.g., State Farm,
With few exceptions, the ratios in this case are well in excess of single digits. Most of the compensatory awards are substantial. At the same time, not all of physicians' damage is quantifiable, and not all of it was compensated; emotional distress as well as security costs will no doubt continue despite the injunction. We agree with the district court that ACLA's conduct is particularly reprehensible. ACLA made no bones about its intent to intimidate those in the reproductive health services community by true threats of serious injury or death. In these circumstances, a substantial award of punitive damages in relation to the actual harm caused will reasonably serve the interests of punishment and deterrence. Our constitutional sensibilities are not offended by a 9 to 1 ratio.
C
Sanctions for Comparable Conduct
We need not go beyond FACE itself, as it provides for criminal fines, 18 U.S.C. § 248(b), and civil penalties in actions brought by the Attorney General, id. § 248(c)(2). A fine for a nonviolent physical obstruction may not be more than $10,000 for the first offense, or more than $25,000 for a subsequent offense. The court may assess a civil penalty against each respondent in a civil action by the Attorney General not to exceed $10,000 for a nonviolent physical obstruction and $15,000 for other first violations. These penalties indicate that Congress believed that substantial sanctions were appropriate to deter those who interfere with clinic operations. See Gregg,
D
Remittitur
Considering reprehensibility, which is high; the ratios, which in the main reflect punitive awards that are significantly disproportionate to the amount of actual or likely harm; and comparable sanctions, which suggest a ballpark figure in dollar terms of $45,000 to $75,000 per defendant, we conclude that the award of punitive damages cannot stand. Having already afforded the district court an opportunity to review the awards in the first instance, we believe it is appropriate to remit rather than again to remand.
This requires us to decide how to arrive at a sum for each defendant to pay each plaintiff that is consistent with constitutional principles. We know what harm the jury found that each plaintiff suffered. We also know the punitive liability that the jury assessed against each defendant in favor of each plaintiff. Accordingly, we shall remit to a sum for each plaintiff that is nine times that plaintiff's compensatory recovery, and we shall allocate that amount of punitive damages among defendants in the same proportion as the jury did in its verdicts.
The remittitur is as follows:
PLAINTIFF compensatory punitive punitive remitted damages
damages damages damages per defendant
award cap/8 award by per plaintiff9
per total jury jury per
plaintiff punitive defendant10
award to
plaintiff
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crist $39,656 $356,904/$14.5m ACLA: $2.25m ACLA: $55,381.50
ALM: $2.25m ALM: $55,381.50
Bray: $1m Bray: $24,614
Burnett: $1m Burnett: $24,614
Crane: $1m Crane: $24,614
Dodds: $750k Dodds: $18,460.50
Dreste: $750k Dreste: $18,460.50
Foreman: $750k Foreman: $18,460.50
McMillan: $1m McMillan: $24,614
Murch: $750k Murch: $18,460.50
Ramey: $500k Ramey: $12,307
Stover: $500k Stover: $12,307
Treshman: $1m Treshman: $24,614
Wysong: $1m Wysong: $24,614
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hern $14,429 $129,861/$13m ACLA: $1.5m ACLA: $14,983.50
ALM: $1.5m ALM: $14,983.50
Bray: $1m Bray: $9,989.00
Burnett: $1m Burnett: $9,989.00
Crane: $1m Crane: $9,989.00
Dodds: $750k Dodds: $7,491.75
Dreste: $750k Dreste: $7,491.75
Foreman: $750k Foreman: $7,491.75
McMillan: $1m McMillan: $9,989.00
Murch: $750k Murch: $7,491.75
Ramey: $500k Ramey: $4,994.00
Stover: $500k Stover: $4,994.00
Treshman: $1m Treshman: $9,989.00
Wysong: $1m Wysong: $9,989.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. Newhall $15,797.98 $142,181.82/$14m ACLA: $2m ACLA: $20,312.00
ALM: $2m ALM: $20,312.00
Bray: $1m Bray: $10,156.00
Burnett: $1m Burnett: $10,156.00
Crane: $1m Crane: $10,156.00
Dodds: $750k Dodds: $7,617.00
Dreste: $750k Dreste: $7,617.00
Foreman: $750k Foreman: $7,617.00
McMillan: $1m McMillan: $10,156.00
Murch: $750k Murch: $7,617.00
Ramey: $500k Ramey: $5,078.00
Stover: $500k Stover: $5,078.00
Treshman: $1m Treshman: $10,156.00
Wysong: $1m Wysong: $10,156.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Newhall $375 $3,375/$14m ACLA: $2m ACLA: $482.00
ALM: $2m ALM: $482.00
Bray: $1m Bray: $241.00
Burnett: $1m Burnett: $241.00
Crane: $1m Crane: $241.00
Dodds: $750k Dodds: $180.75
Dreste: $750k Dreste: $180.75
Foreman: $750k Foreman: $180.75
McMillan: $1m McMillan: $241.00
Murch: $750k Murch: $180.75
Ramey: $500k Ramey: $120.50
Stover: $500k Stover: $120.50
Treshman: $1m Treshman: $241.00
Wysong: $1m Wysong: $241.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPCW $405,834.86 $3,652,513.74/$29.5m ACLA: $6m ACLA: $742,884.00
ALM: $6m ALM: $742,884.00
Bray: $2m Bray: $247,628.00
Burnett: $2m Burnett: $247,628.00
Crane: $2m Crane: $247,628.00
Dodds: $1m Dodds: $123,814.00
Dreste: $1m Dreste: $123,814.00
Foreman: $1m Foreman: $123,814.00
McMillan: $2m McMillan: $247,628.00
Murch: $1m Murch: $123,814.00
Ramey: $750k Ramey: $92,860.50
Stover: $750k Stover: $92,860.50
Treshman: $2m Treshman: $247,628.00
Wysong: $2m Wysong: $247,628.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFWHC $50,243.30 $452,189.70/$23.5m ACLA: $3m ACLA: $57,726.00
ALM: $3m ALM: $57,726.00
Bray: $2m Bray: $38,484.00
Burnett: $2m Burnett: $38,484.00
Crane: $2m Crane: $38,484.00
Dodds: $1m Dodds: $19,242.00
Dreste: $1m Dreste: $19,242.00
Foreman: $1m Foreman: $19,242.00
McMillan: $2m McMillan: $38,484.00
Murch: $1m Murch: $19,242.00
Ramey: $750k Ramey: $14,431.50
Stover: $750k Stover: $14,431.50
Treshman: $2m Treshman: $38,484.00
Wysong: $2m Wysong: $38,484.00
We shall remand for the district court to order a new trial unless physicians accept a remittitur in accord with the fourth column in this table.
III
ACLA raised seven other issues on remand to the district court, and on appeal: (1) whether the Supreme Court's decision in Scheidler v. NOW,
In PPCW V, on rehearing en banc, we affirmed the district court's judgment in all respects but for the constitutionality of the punitive damages awards. At ACLA's request, we stayed the mandate so that it could file a petition for a writ of certiorari in the Supreme Court. It did, and the Court invited the Solicitor General to express the views of the United States. Having received the Solicitor General's submission, which concluded that none of ACLA's challenges to PPCW V merited review, the Supreme Court denied the petition. Our mandate issued.
It has been established since the Supreme Court's decision in In re Sanford Fork & Tool Co.,
[w]hen a case has been once decided by this court on appeal, and remanded to the circuit court, whatever was before this court, and disposed of by its decree, is considered as finally settled. The circuit court is bound by the decree as the law of the case, and must carry it into execution according to the mandate. That court cannot vary it, or examine it for any other purpose than execution; or give any other or further relief; or review it, even for apparent error, upon any matter decided on appeal; or intermeddle with it, further than to settle so much as has been remanded.
Id. at 255,
None of the cases upon which ACLA relies is apposite. Robinson v. Heilman,
Our mandate in PPCW V. was clear. We finally adjudicated all issues except for, and remanded only for consideration of, the constitutional implications of the punitive damages awards. Accordingly, ACLA's additional issues are not open for review.
IV
We affirm the district court's disposition of issues other than the constitutional propriety of the punitive damages awards. As to punitive damages, the awards exceed constitutional limits; we therefore reverse the district court's judgment to this extent and vacate it. We reduce the awards to the amount of remitted damages per plaintiff, per defendant set forth in the table on pages 35-38. We remand so that the district court may order a new trial unless physicians accept the remittitur. Each party shall bear its own costs.
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED.
APPENDIX I
Damages Awarded by the Jury
Defendant FACE FACE RICO (treble)
Compensatory Punitive Damages
Damages Damages
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACLA Crist: $39,656. Crist: $2.25m N/A
Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1.5m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $2m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $2m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $6m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $3m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALM Crist: $39,656. Crist: $2.25m Crist: $118,968.
Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1.5m Hern: $43,287.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $2m E. Newhall: $47,393.94
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $2m J. Newhall: $1,125.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $6m PPCW: $1,217,504.58
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $3m PFWHC: $150,729.90
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m N/A
Bray Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: $118,968.
Burnett Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: $43,287.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: $47,393.94
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: $1,125.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: $1,217,504.58
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: $150,729.90
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: $118,968.
Crane Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: $43,287.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: $47,393.94
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: $1,125.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: $1,217,504.58
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: $150,729.90
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: $89,226.
Dodds Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: $32,466.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: $35,544.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: $843.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: $913,128.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: $113,046.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: $59,484.
Dreste Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: $21,645.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: $23,697.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: $564.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: $608,751.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: $75,363
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: $29,742.
Foreman Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: $10,821.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: $11,850.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: $282.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: $304,377.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: $37,683.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Roy Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: $89,226.
McMillan Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: $32.466.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: $35,544.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: $843.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: $913,128.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: $113,046.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: $59,484.
Murch Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: $21,645.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: $23,697.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: $564.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: $608,751.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: $75,363.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k Crist: $59,484.
Ramey Hern: $14,429. Hern: $500k Hern: $21,645.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $500k E. Newhall: $23,697.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $500k J. Newhall: $564.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $750k PPCW: $608,751.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $750k PFWHC: $75,363.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k Crist: $29,742.
Stover Hern: $14,429. Hern: $500k Hern: $10,821.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $500k E. Newhall: $11,850.
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $500k J. Newhall: $282.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $750k PPCW: $304,377.
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $750k PFWHC: $37,683.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m N/A
Treshman Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: $118,968.
Wysong Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: $43,287.
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: $47,393.94
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: $1,125.
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: $1,217,504.58
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: $150,729.90
APPENDIX II
District Court's Ratio Calculation
Defendant FACE FACE Punitive RATIO
Compensatory (punitive to
jointly and severally compensatory)
liable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACLA Crist: $39,656. Crist: $2.25m 31.8: 1
Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1.5m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $2m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $2m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $6m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $3m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $16.75 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALM Crist: $39,656. Crist: $2.25m 31.8: 1
Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1.5m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $2m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $2m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $6m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $3m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $16.75 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m 15.2: 1
Bray Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $8 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m 15.2: 1
Burnett Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $8 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m 15.2: 1
Crane Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $8 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k 9.5: 1
Dodds Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $5 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k 9.5: 1
Dreste Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $5 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k 9.5: 1
Foreman Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $5 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Roy Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m 15.2: 1
McMillan Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $8 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k 9.5: 1
Murch Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $5 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k 6.6: 1
Ramey Hern: $14,429. Hern: $500k
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $500k
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $500k
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $750k
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $750k
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $3.5 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k 6.6: 1
Stover Hern: $14,429. Hern: $500k
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $500k
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $500k
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $750k
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $750k
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $3.5 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m 15.2: 1
Treshman Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $8 million
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m 15.2: 1
Wysong Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m
______________________ ______________________
Total: $526,336.14 Total: $8 million
APPENDIX III
Comparison per plaintiff, per defendant
Defendant FACE FACE Punitive RATIO
Compensatory (punitive to
jointly and severally compensatory)
liable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACLA Crist: $39,656. Crist: $2.25m Crist: 56.7: 1
Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1.5m Hern: 104: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $2m E. Newhall: 126.6: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $2m J. Newhall: 5,333.3: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $6m PPCW: 14.8: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $3m PFWHC: 59.7: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALM Crist: $39,656. Crist: $2.25m Crist: 56.7: 1
Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1.5m Hern: 104: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $2m E. Newhall: 126.6: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $2m J. Newhall: 5,333.3: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $6m PPCW: 14.8: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $3m PFWHC: 59.7: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: 25.2: 1
Bray Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: 69.3: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: 63.3: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: 2,666.7: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: 4.9: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: 39.8: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: 25.2: 1
Burnett Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: 69.3: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: 63.3: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: 2,666.7: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: 4.9: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: 39.8: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: 25.2: 1
Crane Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: 69.3: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: 63.3: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: 2,666.7: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: 4.9: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: 39.8: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: 18.9: 1
Dodds Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: 52: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: 47.5: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: 2000: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: 2.5: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: 19.9: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Timothy Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: 18.9: 1
Dreste Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: 52: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: 47.5: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: 2000: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: 2.5: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: 19.9: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: 18.9: 1
Foreman Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: 52: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: 47.5: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: 2000: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: 2.5: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: 19.9: 1C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roy Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: 25.2: 1
McMillan Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: 69.3: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: 63.3: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: 2,666.7: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: 4.9: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: 39.8: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Crist: $39,656. Crist: $750k Crist: 18.9: 1
Murch Hern: $14,429. Hern: $750k Hern: 52: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $750k E. Newhall: 47.5: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $750k J. Newhall: 2000: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $1m PPCW: 2.5: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $1m PFWHC: 19.9: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catherine Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k Crist: 12.6: 1
Ramey Hern: $14,429. Hern: $500k Hern: 34.6: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $500k E. Newhall: 31.6: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $500k J. Newhall: 1,333.3: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $750k PPCW: 1.8: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $750k PFWHC: 14.9: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn Crist: $39,656. Crist: $500k Crist: 12.6: 1
Stover Hern: $14,429. Hern: $500k Hern: 34.6: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $500k E. Newhall: 35: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $500k J. Newhall: 1,333.3: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $750k PPCW: 1.8: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $750k PFWHC: 14.9: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: 25.2: 1
Treshman Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: 69.3: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: 63.3: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: 2,666.7: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: 4.9: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: 39.8: 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Crist: $39,656. Crist: $1m Crist: 25.2: 1
Wysong Hern: $14,429. Hern: $1m Hern: 69.3: 1
E. Newhall: $15,797.98 E. Newhall: $1m E. Newhall: 63.3: 1
J. Newhall: $375. J. Newhall: $1m J. Newhall: 2,666.7: 1
PPCW: $405,834.86 PPCW: $2m PPCW: 4.9: 1
PFWHC: $50,243.30 PFWHC: $2m PFWHC: 39.8: 1
Notes:
Notes
These parties are: Advocates for Life Ministries (ALM), Michael Bray, Andrew Burnett, David A. Crane, Timothy Paul Dreste, Joseph L. Foreman, Roy McMillan, Michael Dodds, Bruce Murch, Catherine Ramey, Dawn Marie Stover, Donald Treshman, and Charles Wysong
Other reported decisions in this case are:Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette, Inc. v. American Coalition of Life Activists,
The physicians are Dr. Robert Crist, Dr. Warren M. Hern, Dr. Elizabeth Newhall, and Dr. James Newhall. The two health clinics are Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette, Inc. (PPCW) and the Portland Feminist Women's Health Center (PFWHC). We refer to them collectively as "physicians" unless context otherwise requires
FACE gives aggrieved persons a right of action against whoever by "threat of force . . . intentionally . . . intimidates . . . any person because that person is or has been . . . providing reproductive health services." 18 U.S.C. § 248(a)(1), (c)(1)(A). A person aggrieved may obtain compensatory and punitive damages, as well as equitable reliefId. § 248(c)(1)(A)-(B). FACE allows a plaintiff in a civil action to elect "in lieu of actual damages, an award of statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 per violation." Id. § 248(c)(1)(B).
It is evident from the special verdict that the jury determined the amount of harm suffered by each plaintiff, then awarded that amount against each defendant. Physicians do not contend that they are each entitled to fourteen times this amount. From this, the district court deduced that the compensatory awards were joint and several. We have no quarrel with the district court's interpretation of the import of the verdicts, but we express no opinion whether joint and several liability is or should be the norm in all FACE casesCf. United States v. Gregg,
The compensatory award to each plaintiff is the denominator in the ratio for each defendant ($39,656 in Crist's case, for example)See Transgo, Inc. v. Ajac Transmission Parts Corp.,
Aggrieved parties who bring private actions for relief may elect to recover an award of statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 per violation in lieu of actual damages. 18 U.S.C. § 248(b). Statutory damages are meant to compensate victims when actual loss is hard to prove. Punitive damages are recoverable on this theory as well
This figure is the actual compensatory award times nine (rounded out),i.e., the constitutional limit of punitive damages. For example, in Crist's case: Crist was awarded $39,656 in compensatory damages. Nine times that amount is $356,904.
This figure is the limit of what each defendant must pay to each plaintiff in punitive damages. It is derived by comparing the total amount of punitive damages awarded by the jury to each plaintiff to the amount that is constitutionally permissible. For example, in Crist's case: The jury awarded Crist punitive damages of $14,500,000; the Constitution supports an award of only $356,904; the award against Bray is $1,000,000; therefore the limit of what Bray must pay to Crist is $1,000,000 times the relationship that $356,904 bears to $14,500,000, or $24,614
This figure is based on the jury's verdicts. For example, Crist was awarded $1,000,000 in punitive damages against Bray
