The California Supreme Court today decided not to review the Court of Appeal’s decision in Bankhead v. Arvinmeritor, which upheld a $4.5 million punitive damages award against a defendant with a negative net worth.  So that published opinion will remain on the books and California law will remain murky as to what constitutes “meaningful” evidence of the defendant’s financial condition for the purpose of imposing punitive damages.

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Defendant files petition for review in Bankhead v. Arvinmeritor

Published opinion affirms $4.5M punitive damages award in asbestos case (Bankhead v. ArvinMeritor)