5. a. Any actions involving punitive damages shall, if requested by any defendant, be conducted in a bifurcated trial.

b. In the first stage of a bifurcated trial, the trier of fact shall determine liability for compensatory damages and the amount of compensatory damages or nominal damages. Evidence relevant only to the issues of punitive damages shall not be admissible in this stage.

c. Punitive damages may be awarded only if compensatory damages have been awarded in the first stage of the trial. An award of nominal damages cannot support an award of punitive damages.

d. In the second stage of a bifurcated trial, the trier of fact shall determine if a defendant is liable for punitive damages.

e. In any action in which there are two or more defendants, an award of punitive damages must be specific as to a defendant, and each defendant is liable only for the amount of the award made against that defendant.

L.1995,c.142,s.5.