Tarr v. Bob Ciasulli's MacK Auto Mall, Inc.

This case is before us for a second time on an appeal by defendant, Bob Ciasulli’s Mack Auto Mall, Inc. See Tarr v. Bob Ciasulli’s Mack Auto Mall, Inc., 178 N.J. 29, 834 A.2d 403 (2003). The issue this round is whether the Legislature, in enacting the Punitive Damages Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.9 to -5.17 (Act), intended punitive awards to focus only on deterrence of the specific defendant that committed the wrongdoing as opposed to deterrence “of others” generally. Tarr v. Ciasulli’s Mack Auto Mall, Inc., 390 N.J.Super. 557, 572, 916 A.2d 484 (App.Div.) (dissenting judge finding no clear…