Getting ready for the start of punitive damages (11)
I believe the answer is:
preparation
'getting ready' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'start of punitive damages' is the wordplay.
'start of' indicates taking the first letters.
'damages' becomes 'reparation' (I've seen this before).
The first letter of 'punitive' is 'p'.
'p'+'reparation'='PREPARATION'
'for the' is the link.
(Other definitions for preparation that I've seen before include "Homework" , "getting ready" , "Planning" , "Specially made up medicine" , "Preliminary measure" .)