Depends on how you define punitive. Recovery of damages is common place. Lost revenues, wages, etc. Now I agree that additional nX punitive damages are not common. Further, malicious breech or negligence can lead to additional compensation.
The glib, nope, never blather is BS. Anything can and does happen in a court of law. Google is your friend. Just a few minutes research would save you from asinine statements. Or go live in California, the specifically preclude punitive damages for pedestrian type contract breech.