Waffling on punitive damages

Every time I begin to think that punitive damages are a bad idea, something comes along to give me pause. Such is the situation with General Motor's ignition switch redesign in 2006. The redesign was a cost-cutting move at the expense of consumer safety, but that's not the part that irks me. GM's apparent internal conspiracy to conceal and deny the redesign for half a dozen years, or more, is what makes me think a smack down is well deserved. The best explanation I've seen is by attorney Steve Moskos, General Motor's Ignition Switch Nightmare.