Rule 4003.7 Punitive damages

If you are suing someone and asking for punitive damages, you cannot simply demand financial records showing how much money the defendant has. You need to get permission from a judge first.

When you ask the judge for permission, the judge will set rules around that discovery. Those rules will cover when you can ask for the financial information, what exactly you can ask for, and who can see the information once you get it. This protects defendants from having their private financial details shared widely before a court has decided they actually owe punitive damages.