McKibben, owner of a mining claim near Fairbanks, Alaska, signed a mining lease agreement with Mohawk Oil that provided that McKibben would receive 45 percent of the value of all ores
and minerals mined. When the ore mined had a specified low value, however, McKibben would
receive only 10 percent of the value of the ore mined. McKibben discovered that Mohawk Oil was
diluting the ore and removing precious metals without reporting this to McKibben as required by
the lease. McKibben sued, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. Can punitive
damages be recovered in this breach of contract action? Why or why not?