Judge reduces punitive damages in car crash

A Montana judge has reduced a punitive damages award from $240 million to $73 million in a lawsuit against Hyundai over a crash that killed two Missoula cousins in July 2011.

KERR-AM reports jurors awarded actual damages of $1 million to each parent and $500,000 to each sibling of 19-year-old Trevor Olson and 14-year-old Tanner Olson. Their families alleged a broken steering knuckle in the Hyundai vehicle Trevor was driving caused the crash. The May decision also awarded $2.6 million for lost earnings to Trevor Olson’s estate.

District Judge Kim Christopher ruled a state law that limits punitive damages to the lesser of $10 million or 3 percent of a defendant’s net worth is unconstitutional. However, she says punitive damage awards must be reasonable and set the amount at $73 million.