Suing for Punitive Damages in Longmont

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Litigation Lawyers in Longmont

In Longmont, Colorado, the civil litigation system is primarily concerned with compensating the victims of wrongdoing, rather than punishing the wrongdoers, or casting moral blame upon them.

There is a major exception to this rule, however. In limited situations, courts in Longmont, Colorado will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff damages which are not directly tied to any harm suffered by the plaintiff. Rather, these damages, which are known as "punitive damages", are meant to punish the wrongdoer, and serve as a deterrent.

You should be aware that courts in Longmont, Colorado are not particularly fond of granting punitive damages, because they view it as a financial windfall that generally runs counter to civil litigation's primary purpose of compensating victims of wrongdoing for the harm they've suffered. However, if the conduct of the defendant was completely reprehensible and the harm caused was deliberate, a court might impose damages to punish the defendant, known as "punitive damages."

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Longmont, Colorado

Generally personal injury cases in Longmont, Colorado involve injuries that the defendant did not intend to cause, but was still at fault in causing them (through negligence, for example). In Longmont, Colorado, this is not enough to justify the award of punitive damages.

Punitive Damages in Longmont, Colorado are only awarded in cases where the actions of the plaintiff was intentional and highly immoral, or extremely reckless. In Longmont, Colorado, torts such as fraud, gross negligence, and theft are sufficient to award punitive damages. Courts consider numerous factors when deciding whether or not punitive damages are warranted. Courts will look at the nature of the act, as well as the defendant's intent in performing the act. This will be weighed, on a sliding scale, against the actual harm that the defendant's conduct caused to the plaintiff.

You should be aware of the fact that there are some pretty severe limits on punitive damages in Longmont, Colorado. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that there are constitutional limits on punitive damage awards. Punitive damages can't be too disproportionate to the actual damages that the plaintiff has suffered. Appeals courts have found that excessive punitive damage awards violate the defendant's right to due process, by depriving them of massive amounts of property.

Typically, in Longmont, Colorado, punitive damage awards that exceed the actual damages (those awarded to directly compensate the plaintiff) by a factor of 10. This is not an absolute rule, however, and is applied on a case-by-case basis. Courts in Colorado have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a Longmont, Colorado Attorney Help?

The law of Longmont, Colorado doesn't lay out many strict conditions which are required before punitive damages can be granted. Instead, it largely leaves it to the discretion of the courts. So, there are many situations where they might be awarded.

If you live in Longmont, Colorado and are immersed in a case that you believe carries the possibility of a punitive damage award, you may be entitled to a large amount of money from the person or company that harmed you. To know for sure, you should speak with a civil litigation attorney in Longmont, Colorado.

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Life in Longmont

Longmont, Colorado is a home-rule municipality in Boulder and Weld Counties. It is located near the northeastern corner of Colorado, and has a population of about 86,000 people.

One of the largest employers in Longmont, Colorado is Seagate Technologies, with over 1,160 employees. Seagate is one of the largest manufacturers of hard drives in the world. This company employs a large number of engineers and manufacturers. It also employs several white-collar professionals, including some Longmont, Colorado lawyers.

Another large employer in Longmont is Amgen, one of the world's leading biotech companies, which also employs many Longmont, Colorado lawyers.

If you live in Longmont, Colorado and need legal advice, it's almost certain that you'll be able to find a Longmont, Colorado attorney who can help you with your legal issue.

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