美国合同领域惩罚性赔偿研究

A Study of the Punitive Damages in American Contract Law

惩罚性赔偿在美国合同领域的适用范围经历了兴起、扩张、回归的过程。美国大多数州只有在合同案件中存在独立于违约的侵权行为时才能对被告判处惩罚性赔偿金。有的州允许对特殊关系的合同或一般商业合同中被告违背诚信义务的行为适用惩罚性赔偿。美国合同案件中惩罚性赔偿的适用具有违约主体的强势性、违约行为道德上的可谴责性以及危害后果的开放性等特点。我国合同领域惩罚性赔偿的适用应突破消费合同的范围。惩罚性赔偿的数额不宜采用定额赔偿,应由法官依据一定原则自由裁量。

The award of punitive damages in American contract law has gone through the stages of rising, expansion and limitation. In most states of the U. S. , punitive damages constitutes an independent tort. Some states allow punitive can be awarded only when the breach of contract also damages awarded for breach in bad faith in special relationship contracts or commercial contracts. The features of breach which punitive the powerful parties to contracts, condemnatory breaches and open damages damages is against in America are to society. The award of punitive damages in Chinese contract law should stretch out consumer contracts. The amount of punitive damages shouldnl be fixed but rather leave the decision to judgeg discretion.