Which of the following is NOT a component considered in compensatory damages?

Compensatory damages are designed to compensate a plaintiff for losses suffered due to another party's wrongful actions. They typically include tangible and measurable losses such as past physical pain, future medical expenses, and loss of earnings. Each of these components directly corresponds to the actual harm experienced by the plaintiff.

Past physical pain refers to suffering experienced up to the point of trial, future medical expenses account for ongoing or future healthcare needs resulting from the injury, and loss of earnings covers the income lost due to the inability to work.

In contrast, punitive penalties are not considered a component of compensatory damages. Instead, punitive damages are additional sums awarded to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future. They serve a different purpose than compensatory damages, aiming to address the defendant's behavior rather than just the plaintiff's losses. Thus, identifying punitive penalties as not being part of compensatory damages underscores the distinction between these two types of damages within the legal framework.