Punitive Damages
All Initiatives   
Subject Matter:
Punitive Damages  (See Comments)

Original Filing:
N/A

Proposed Ballot Title:
Should the Mississippi Constitution limit and/or eliminate the penalty for intentionally defrauding or willfully endangering the people of Mississippi?

Proposed Ballot Summary:
Passage of this amendment would: limit the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded in a case to the greater of $250,000.00 or five times the amount of economic damages; require actual malice, gross negligence or actual fraud be proven beyond a reasonable doubt; prohibit punitive damages where the activity or product complied with federal or state regulatory laws; prohibit punitive damages if they have been awarded previously for the same conduct or defect.

Initiative Petition:
N/A

Sponsor:
Thomas Slough
Address:
PO Box 13987
Jackson MS 39236-3987

Phone: (601) 352-7867

Status:
Expired

Town Meeting Location:
N/A

Initiative Information:
The official ballot title and ballot summary for an initiative measure are prepared by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Initiative measures are valid for one year. During this one-year period, a petition may be circulated to place the measure on the next statewide general election ballot to allow the voters of Mississippi to determine whether the measure should become a part of the Mississippi Constitution. According to Mississippi law, for an initiative measure to be placed on the ballot, a minimum of 106,190 certified signatures must be gathered, with at least 21,238 certified signatures from each of the five congressional districts as they existed in the year 2000. This required number of signatures represents twelve percent (12%) of the total number of votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial general election. Signatures must be certified by county circuit clerks as belonging to registered voters in Mississippi. A completed petition should be filed with Secretary of State, together with a filing fee of $500.00. For more information on the initiative process in Mississippi, consult the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, Section 273, and Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 23-17-1 through 23-17-61 (1972).

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