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People seemed to have no problem with the idea that Oberlin could have inflicted $36MM against a family. I didn't either! That's how tort damages work.

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The Oberlin case had damages of $25 million, not $36 million, and that was the combined award to number of individuals plus a company that suffered a significant loss of revenue.

Apples vs Oranges.

I don't agree. But if you'd like another example: Hulk Hogan got $115MM personally from Gawker, over a sex tape.

If I could get $115M for a sex tape, I'd be making one every week.

Apples & oranges again? Hogan is a public figure who might actually lose out on a hundred mil due to reputation damage. A average middle class USA family, not so much.

Anyway if it isn't punitive shouldn't there be some kind of account for how the number was arrived at? I don't see it in the article.

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