Cutler Law Firm partner Kim Wassink was recently honored by the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association at the annual State Bar Convention with a Toast of the Trial Lawyers award.
Kim’s legal analysis, research, and briefing led to a watershed change in South Dakota law that now allows someone whose reckless conduct causes a death to be subject to punitive damages (damages a jury may award to deter and punish particularly egregious conduct on the wrongdoer’s part).
Prior to Kim’s work and the ruling in her favor, a defendant could only be held liable for punitive damages if the person they hurt lived and not if that person was killed instantly. Kim’s excellent work helped reverse decades of old case precedent and put common sense values back into South Dakota law.
Congratulations, Kim!