Someone steals a substantial sum of money from you. It wipes you out and leaves you destitute. You have been forced to live without the money so why shouldn't you receive punitive plus compensatory damages? For instance, do you think Bernie Madoff's victims will ever be made whole financially? One item of interest though; Bernie does not have the opportunity to earn one thin dime while sitting in the big house. I say get the man a job and take his earnings and divide it among his victims.