 For example, in 1999, a Los Angeles County jury awarded $4.8 billion in punitive damages against General Motors to a group of six burn victims whose 1979 Chevrolet Malibu was rear-ended by a drunk driver, causing it to catch fire.That was later reduced to $1.2 billion by the judge.It is argued by some that extraordinary damage awards in the United States are a result of the jury system.