G.J.D. ex rel. G.J.D. v. Johnson

OPINION

ZAPPALA, Justice.

We granted allocatur to determine whether punitive damages may be recovered from the estate of a deceased tortfeasor. We hold that such damages may be recovered, and therefore affirm.

Appellee G.J.D. and Darwin Thebes were involved in an intimate relationship for approximately five years. During that time Thebes took sexually explicit photographs1 of G.J.D. which he then kept hidden. G.J.D. did not see the photographs until several years later after she had ended her relationship with Thebes.

G. J.D. alleged that Thebes distributed photocopies of the photographs…