Pacific Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Haslip (1991) 499 U.S. 1 [111 S.Ct. 1032, 113 L.Ed.2d 1].

Holding that punitive damages award did not violate Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, where: (1) imposing such liability on an insurer when its agent commits intentional fraud creates a strong incentive for vigilance and rationally advances the state's goals; and (2) defendant had the benefit of adequate procedural protections from the state, including adequate jury instructions imposing constraint on the jury's discretion to award punitive damages, a post-verdict hearing where the trial court specifically found evidence of intentional fraud, and appropriate review by the state supreme court.

We appeared as amicus curiae counsel on behalf of the Association for California Tort Reform in support of petitioner.

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