Kemezy v. Peters, 79 F.3d 33 (7th Cir. 1996)


Facts of the Case
Jeffrey Kemezy sued a Muncie, Indiana policeman named James Peters under 42 U.S.C. sec. 1983, claiming that Peters had wantonly beaten him with the officer's nightstick in an altercation in a bowling alley where Peters was moonlighting as a security guard. The jury awarded Kemezy $10,000 in compensatory damages and $20,000 in punitive damages.

Question
Was it the plaintiff's burden to introduce evidence concerning the defendant's net worth for purposes of equipping the jury with information essential to a just measurement of punitive damages?

Conclusion
Chief Judge, Richard Posner held that plaintiffs are never required to submit evidence of defendants’ net worth.