A case where damages are awarded to punish and deter employers for discriminatory actions is known as what type of damages?

• A. Punitive damages
• B. Compensatory damages
• C. Injunctive relief
• D. Liquidated damages

Answer: (A)

Punitive damages are awarded to punish and deter especially harmful conduct, such as discriminatory actions by an employer. They go beyond simply compensating the plaintiff for losses and are meant to sanction the wrongdoer and deter others from similar conduct in the future. This distinguishes them from compensatory damages, which restore the plaintiff to the position they were in before the harm, and from injunctive relief, which is a court order to stop or require actions rather than a monetary payment. Liquidated damages are predetermined penalties set in a contract, not awards tied to punitive purposes in civil rights or employment cases. Since the scenario emphasizes punishing and deterring discriminatory behavior, punitive damages are the appropriate type.