Suing for Punitive Damages in Greenwich

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Litigation Lawyers in Greenwich

In Greenwich, Connecticut, the civil litigation system is mainly 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 cases, courts in Greenwich, Connecticut will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff damages which are not directly tied to any harm sustained 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 cognizant that courts in Greenwich, Connecticut are not especially fond of authorizing 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 Greenwich, Connecticut

Personal injury litigation doesn't typically carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in Greenwich, Connecticut, because typically personal injury cases stem from harm that was caused accidentally, not deliberately. Accidental harm is not enough to warrant an award of punitive damages in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Punitive Damages in Greenwich, Connecticut are only awarded in cases where the behavior of the plaintiff was intentional and highly immoral, or extremely reckless. In Greenwich, Connecticut, 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.

There are limits on punitive damages in Greenwich, Connecticut. The Supreme Court has held that punitive damage awards which are grossly disproportionate to the immorality of the conduct, and the harm that it caused, are an unconstitutional deprivation of property without due process of law.

Usually, in Greenwich, Connecticut, 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, nonetheless, and is applied on a case-by-case basis. Courts in Connecticut have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a Greenwich, Connecticut Attorney Help?

In Greenwich, Connecticut, judges and juries have a good deal of leeway in deciding if they want to grant punitive damages, so there are a nearly-unlimited number of cases that can lead to a punitive damage award.

If you live in Greenwich, Connecticut and are engaged in a case that you believe carries the possibility of a punitive damage award, you may be entitled to a large amount of funds from the person or company that hurt you. To know for sure, you should speak with a civil litigation attorney in Greenwich, Connecticut.

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Life in Greenwich

Greenwich, Connecticut is a city in Fairfield County. It has a population of abougt 65,000 people.

Greenwich was first settled by Europeans in 1640, and the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony declared Greenwich a township in 1665.

Greenwich frequently places in the top 20 in Money Magazine's list of the best places in America to live, considering factors such as good schools, quality infrastructure, abundant recreational activities, high standard of living, and relatively low cost of living.

Greenwich, Connecticut is a popular tourist destination, owing to its many attractive beaches. Sailing and recreational (as opposed to commercial) fishing are popular activities in the area. Greenwich is also home to several major corporations in the banking and logistics industries.

Greenwich, Connecticut is an extremely wealthy city, with a per-capita income of over ,000, and a median home price of about .7 million.

Given the diverse and sophisticated clientele of Greenwich, Connecticut, it's no surprise that there are plenty of lawyers capable of handling complex and sophisticated cases in the area. If you have any legal issue, whether it's the planning of a complex estate, a major business deal, or even a simple divorce, there is almost certainly a Greenwich, Connecticut lawyer who can handle it.

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