Fewer people (24%) think damages awarded in lawsuits are too high compared with 42% in 2016, the study found. The attitude toward punitive damages remained more stable. About 73% of respondents think punitive damages are the best way to deter bad behavior, compared with 80% in 2016. The findings confirm that juror sentiment has shifted significantly toward plaintiffs, a change affecting verdicts in measurable ways, according to Swiss Re. The survey is based on responses from approximately 1,150 U.S. adults who were shown a series of randomized legal simulations.