Suing for Punitive Damages in Boise

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Litigation Lawyers in Boise

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

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. In Boise, Idaho, courts will, in fairly rare cases, require defendants to pay plaintiffs sums of money which aren't calculated by the actual harm and costs the plaintiff has incurred. Alternatively, these "punitive damages," as they are called, are meant to punish and deter wrongdoing.

Courts in Boise, Idaho do not authorize punitive damages in most cases. The civil litigation system is geared against authorizing financial windfalls to civil plaintiffs. But, there are rare cases, where the defendant has done something to the plaintiff that is so morally reprehensible, that society's interest in punishing the defendant and deterring comparable misconduct outweighs the civil justice system's preference against punitive damages.

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Boise, Idaho

Personal injury litigation doesn't typically carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in Boise, Idaho, 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 Boise, Idaho.

In Boise, Idaho, punitive damages are only awarded in extreme cases. Civil wrongs such as fraud, conversion (theft), battery, and other intentional, depraved acts are sufficient to award punitive damages. In deciding whether or not to award punitive damages, and how much money to award, courts in Boise, Idaho will consider many different factors. Typically, they employ a sliding scale, weighing the nature of the conduct and the actual harm that the conduct caused. The more immoral the conduct, and/or the more harm caused, the more likely a court is to award punitive damages.

It's critical to know that punitive damages in Boise, Idaho are subject to limits. The Supreme Court of the United States has held, more than once, that punitive damages can't be grossly disproportionate to the actual harm sustained by the plaintiff. Grossly excessive punitive damage awards are unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has held, because they amount to the government acquiring property from the defendant without due process of law.

In general, punitive damages in Boise, Idaho cannot be more than 10 times larger than the actual damages sustained by the plaintiff. Nonetheless, this is not an absolute rule, and appeals courts in Idaho have upheld much larger awards, and found much smaller awards to be invalid. It's decided on a case-by-case basis.

How Can a Boise, Idaho Attorney Help?

In Boise, Idaho, there are a large variety of situations in which punitive damages are appropriate, because the decision to grant punitive damages is largely up to the discretion of the jury.

If you are located in Boise, Idaho, and are engaged in a case that you think, based on the information conveyed above, that might have punitive damages as an option, you can't be sure what, if anything, you're entitled to from the defendant until you consult with a Boise, Idaho civil litigation attorney

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Life in Boise

Boise City is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon. When you add on that Boise City acts as the Ada County seat, you begin to understand what an attractive city it is. The Boise River Greenbelt attracts nature lovers and is home to outstanding bird watching during migratory seasons. The World Center for Birds of Prey is nearby and is playing an integral role in repopulating endangered Peregrine Falcon and California Condor populations. For a closer look at the wild, Julia Davis Park and Zoo Boise offer a wide range of animals, over 200 to be exact, including African animals such as lions.

Boise City enjoys a strong economy as a growing high-tech, transportation, and hub of company headquarters. WinCo Foods, BodyBuilding.com, Clearwater Analytics, and Albertsons all have headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Boise City. Relative to the national statistics, Boise City enjoys a very low unemployment rate. Since so many Boise residents are hard at work, the city also boasts shockingly low crime statistics.

Boise is a safe prosperous community in which Ada County operates its major inner workings like the legal system. Ada County Courts in Boise City are responsible for handling a wide variety of cases like child custody, wrongful termination, probate, and criminal cases. A qualified cast of lawyers live in Boise City as well. Boise City lawyers are knowledgeable of local courts and procedures. Lawyers in Boise City can work with you to determine your best course of action whether you're thinking about bankruptcy or filing a personal injury lawsuit.

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