Punitive damages may be awarded in a fair housing violation case when which condition is met?

Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. In cases involving fair housing violations, punitive damages may be awarded when the violator shows conscious indifference to the rights of the aggrieved party. This means that the violator was aware of the potential harm caused by their actions but chose to disregard that risk. Such behavior demonstrates a level of severity that justifies punitive damages, as it reflects a willful or egregious disregard for the law and the rights of others.

In contrast, if a violator acted in ignorance or if the violation was unintentional, these situations do not typically meet the threshold for punitive damages because they imply a lack of intent or knowledge regarding the wrongful nature of the action. Additionally, if the aggrieved person did not provide evidence of the claim, it would not support a case for punitive damages since the requisite showing of harm or wrongdoing would be absent. Therefore, conscious indifference is the key factor that allows for the imposition of punitive damages in these cases.