Final answer:
Lisa, a real estate broker who intentionally violated the DTPA, may be held responsible for paying punitive damages. These are meant to punish and deter egregious conduct rather than merely compensate for actual damages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lisa, as a real estate broker who knowingly committed a violation under the DTPA, may be held responsible for paying punitive damages. This type of damages is awarded in addition to actual damages when the defendant's conduct was particularly harmful or egregious, as a means to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct in the future.
The DTPA, or Deceptive Trade Practices Act, is designed to protect consumers from false, misleading, and deceptive business practices, unconscionable actions, and breaches of warranty. When a violation is determined to be intentional, as in Lisa's case, the court may award not only any actual financial losses suffered by the consumers but also additional punitive damages to sanction the perpetrator.
Unlike liquidated damages (pre-determined monetary compensation agreed upon in a contract), criminal damages (not applicable as the DTPA deals with civil liability), or nominal damages (a small amount of money awarded when a legal right is violated but no actual damage is done), punitive damages are specifically aimed at punishment and deterrence.