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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Philomena Badami v. Terry Flood, 214 F.3d 994 (2000)

Citation
Philomena Badami v. Terry Flood, 214 F.3d 994 (2000)
Parent Document
Philomena Badami v. Terry Flood, 214 F.3d 994 (2000)
Effective Date
2000-06-05

Other Sections in This Document (30)

Full Text

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       The Fair Housing Act provides for the recovery of punitive damages by victims
of discriminatory housing practices. See 42 U.S.C. § 3613(c)(1) (1994). "[T]he
assessment of punitive damages under the FHA is governed by federal rather than state
law." United States v. Big D Enterprises, Inc., 184 F.3d 924, 932 (8th Cir. 1999), cert.
denied, 120 S. Ct. 1419 (2000). Punitive damages are appropriate in a federal civil
rights action "when the defendant's conduct is shown to be motivated by evil motive or
intent, or when it involves reckless or callous indifference to the federally protected
rights of others." Smith v. Wade, 461 U.S. 30, 56 (1983).