If drug manufacturers are overdeterred by fear of excessive penalties, some people may suffer needlessly because not enough new drugs will be introduced.

Peirson defended his action yesterday and said he thought termination was an excessive penalty.

The tickets cost $50 - a sum he considers an excessive penalty on his livelihood.

This prohibition against excessive penalties has ancient roots in the common law: Acme obviously couldn't demand a pound of flesh for speeding.

"I thought it was an excessive penalty."

"Putting someone out of work may be an excessive penalty."

Like Patry, many believed that liability per song was an excessive penalty.

Is death an excessive penalty for any offense?

I was a sergeant major and he had brutally abused my men with excessive penalties for minor offecses.

Is $150,000 per copyrighted work an excessive penalty?