Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 768.735 (2025)
Punitive damages; exceptions; limitation.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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768.735 Punitive damages; exceptions; limitation.—
(1) Sections 768.72(2)-(4), 768.725, and 768.73 do not apply to any civil action based upon child abuse, abuse of the elderly under chapter 415, or abuse of the developmentally disabled. Such actions are governed by applicable statutes and controlling judicial precedent. This section does not apply to claims brought pursuant to s. 400.023 or s. 429.29.
(2)(a) In any civil action based upon child abuse, abuse of the elderly under chapter 415, or abuse of the developmentally disabled, and involving the award of punitive damages, the judgment for the total amount of punitive damages awarded to a claimant may not exceed three times the amount of compensatory damages awarded to each person entitled thereto by the trier of fact, except as provided in paragraph (b). This subsection does not apply to any class action.
(b) If any award for punitive damages exceeds the limitation specified in paragraph (a), the award is presumed to be excessive and the defendant is entitled to remittitur of the amount in excess of the limitation unless the claimant demonstrates to the court by clear and convincing evidence that the award is not excessive in light of the facts and circumstances that were presented to the trier of fact.
(c) This subsection is not intended to prohibit an appropriate court from exercising its jurisdiction under s. 768.74 in determining the reasonableness of an award of punitive damages which is less than three times the amount of compensatory damages.
(d) The jury may not be instructed or informed as to the provisions of this section.
(3) This section is remedial in nature and shall take effect upon becoming a law.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4
cases, 2005–2018 · leading case: Est. of Despain v. Avante Grp., Inc., 900 So. 2d 637 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).
Est. of Despain v. Avante Grp., Inc., 900 So. 2d 637 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005). “4298, Florida Statutes, as created by this act, and section 768.735, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, shall become effective May 15, 2001; shall apply to causes of action accruing on or after May 15, 2001; and shall be applied retroactively to causes of action accruing…”
Goodin v. Bank of Am. N.A., 114 F. Supp. 3d 1197 (M.D. Fla. 2015). “Fla. Stat. § 768.735 (1). . For a more fulsome discussion of these *1216 cases, see supra Part IV.”
Williams v. Tandem Health Care of Florida, 899 So. 2d 369 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005). “72(3) are specifically made inapplicable to RRA claims by section 768.735(1), Florida Statutes (2000).”
Brevard Achievement v. Camp, 254 So. 3d 1135 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018). “Moreover, in the context of vicarious liability, the employer may only be liable for punitive damages "if [it] condoned, ratified, or consented to the specific conduct.”
— 768.735(1) — 3 cases
Est. of Despain v. Avante Grp., Inc., 900 So. 2d 637 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005). “4298, Florida Statutes, as created by this act, and section 768.735, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, shall become effective May 15, 2001; shall apply to causes of action accruing on or after May 15, 2001; and shall be applied retroactively to causes of action accruing…”
Williams v. Tandem Health Care of Florida, 899 So. 2d 369 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005). “72(3) are specifically made inapplicable to RRA claims by section 768.735(1), Florida Statutes (2000).”
Brevard Achievement v. Camp, 254 So. 3d 1135 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018). “Moreover, in the context of vicarious liability, the employer may only be liable for punitive damages "if [it] condoned, ratified, or consented to the specific conduct.”
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