502us2$23Z 08-19-96 17:41:21 PAGES OPINPGT
Cite as: 502 U. S. 301 (1992)
309
Opinion of the Court
“If, however, in any case wherein death was caused, the law of the place where the act or omission complained of occurred provides, or has been construed to provide, for damages only punitive in nature, the United States shall be liable for actual or compensatory damages, measured by the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death to the persons respectively, for whose benefit the action was brought, in lieu thereof.” 28 U. S. C. § 2674. This provision was added to the statute to address the fact that two States, Alabama and Massachusetts, permitted only punitive damages in wrongful-death actions. Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co. v. United States, supra, at 130–131. The Government contends that the second clause of § 2674 “confirms the compensatory purpose of the statute and demonstrates that Congress intended to define ‘punitive damages’ by contrasting them with ‘actual or compensatory damages.’ ” Brief for United States 18–19 (footnote omitted). This argument is undermined, however, not only by the fact that “punitive damages” is a legal term of art with a wellestablished common-law meaning, but also by the Government’s own statement that, although the second clause defines “actual or compensatory damages” as “the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death,” the “pecuniary injuries” standard does not apply in determining compensatory damages in any other kind of tort suit against the United States. Id., at 19, n. 13. Given this concession, which we agree to be a correct statement of the law, the second clause of § 2674 cannot be read as proving so much as the Government claims. The Government’s interpretation of “punitive damages” would be difficult and impractical to apply. Under the Government’s reading, an argument could be made that Mr. Molzof ’s damages for future medical expenses would have to be reduced by the amount he saved on rent, meals, clothing, and other daily living expenses that he did not incur while
