Punitive damages are an additional category of damages, beyond compensatory damages, awarded in cases where the defendant's conduct was especially egregious. The threshold typically requires a showing of malice, recklessness, or willful disregard.
Missouri caps punitive damages at the greater of $500,000 or 5x compensatory damages (§ 510.265). Illinois has caps in medical malpractice and certain other contexts but no general statutory cap.
Punitive damages are not available in every case. Pure negligence cases rarely qualify; cases involving drunk drivers, deliberate corporate misconduct, or punitive-worthy criminal acts are the typical candidates.