Now the group, which represents business interests, is opposing a laundry list of bills fluttering about Capitol Hill, which the chamber says would make it easier to organize a union, expand worker benefits at the expense of employers and lift the caps on punitive damages sought by employees in lawsuits.

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Analysts are sanguine about the loss, even though punitive damages could be on the way.

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The only thing more impressive than Exxon's profits may be its lawyers: In its argument, the oil giant points to an 1818 maritime decision by the Supreme Court which says a company isn't liable for punitive damages based on the "wanton acts" of a ship's captain.

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The judge also agreed to rule out punitive damages against Cameron International, the manufacturer of the blowout preventer on the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon rig, which was rocked by an explosion and fire in 2010 that killed 11 workers and touched off the enormous spill.

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The punitive damages award suggests that all this made a powerful impression on the jury, but whether it will stand up on appeal is another matter.

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Lawyers for George Zimmerman are seeking punitive damages from NBC over edits of a police call he made on the night Trayvon Martin was killed.

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In exchange, the companies were given immunity from class-action suits and punitive damages based on past acts.

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Generally speaking, punitive damages are not meant to compensate the victim as much as to deter similar negligent behavior on behalf of the wrongdoer in the future.

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