Supreme Court Rules Cap on Punitive Damages in Arkansas Unconstitutional

In a landmark case last week the Arkansas Supreme Court took a second look at a $50 million dollar verdict assessed against Bayer CropScience. The premise of the case dealt with contamination of the food supply by genetically altered seeds. A Lonoke County jury awarded $42 million in punitive damages against Bayer in April 2010. The lower court attempted to limit the punitive damages amount assessed in that it would shock the business culture in Arkansas and have a "chilling effect" on capitalism in the state. The plaintiff's in this case, along with must other Arkansas accident injury attorneys disagree.

In a clear decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court, the cap on punitive damages was ruled unconstitutional, a decision that the lower court had reached in the case. The Chamber of Commerce chimed in on the decison as something that would have a horrible effect on businesses in the state. Why is that? Because large companies will be held legally accountable by our civil justice system? We think Scott Powell, an Alabama lawyer who reperesented the injured plaintiffs in this case said it best in that this decision by the court will help deter bad conduct of big business.

The civil justice system is in place as a mechanism of checks and balances for the conduct of corporations. If a company markets, sells, and profits from a product, it must be held fully accoutable to anyone that it injures along the way. If that isn't the case, citizens are in imminent danger because there will be nothing to stop reckless conduct of big business. And lets remember, this isn't some arbitrary court system. Each case is ruled on by a group of jurors, representing the community and the state of Arkansas. These are individuals who are not beholden to anyone or any company. The civil justice system is a beautiful thing. Placing caps on what the jury can, or cannot award, is an unfair limit on our constitutional rights, as citizens, to seek redress from the courts.

Our Little Rock injury lawyers will continue to fight for justice in each case where a client is injured due to the careless or reckless conduct of another person or business. What we do each day in Arkansas courts is an effort to deter future negligence and create a safer state for our children. If you want to discuss your situation with one of our experienced Arkansas accident attorney, contact the Arkansas Injury Law Center today.