Originally Posted by smooth

I don't think you get punitive damages for salary disputes. I could be wrong, but they aren't generally awarded over contractual disputes and the behaviors has to be malicious and egregious; I also think juries award punitive damages and judges can adjust them. There's probably a lot more to it, civil law is a world apart from criminal law, but whatever the type of damages are not what's at issue here so if I were you I'd drop that prong of your argument unless you were absolutely sure (as in looked it up yourself and read the relevant cases, not damn I'm never wrong sure) because it's not going to add any weight to your point.

there's obviously an argument to be made for the way things currently are, I'd start by reading the supreme's decision, but it only harms rather than helps one's stance to form spurious arguments.