Suing for Punitive Damages in Olathe

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Litigation Lawyers in Olathe

In Olathe, Kansas, civil litigation serves the main purpose of compensating individuals who have been victims of wrongdoing, and not meting out punishment, vengeance, or moral judgment.

There is a major exception to this rule, however. In limited circumstances, courts in Olathe, Kansas 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.

Punitive Damages in Olathe, Kansas are not awarded easily, because the civil justice system generally disfavors giving plaintiffs financial windfalls not directly related to compensating them for their injuries. They are usually only awarded when the conduct of the defendant is morally reprehensible, and far worse than simple carelessness.

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Olathe, Kansas

Personal injury litigation doesn't usually carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in Olathe, Kansas, because mostly 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 Olathe, Kansas.

Punitive Damages in Olathe, Kansas are only awarded in cases where the conduct of the plaintiff was intentional and highly immoral, or extremely reckless. In Olathe, Kansas, 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.

It's essential to know that punitive damages in Olathe, Kansas 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.

Generally, in Olathe, Kansas, 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 Kansas have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a Olathe, Kansas Attorney Help?

In Olathe, Kansas, 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 circumstances that can lead to a punitive damage award.

If you are involved in a case in Olathe, Kansas where punitive damages are a possibility, a very large amount of money could be at stake, whether you are the plaintiff or defendant. You should not delay to speak with a civil litigation attorney in Olathe, Kansas

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Life in Olathe

Olathe, Kansas is a city in Johnson County, Kansas. It is also the county seat of that county. it has a population of about 125,000 people.

In 2008, CNN andMoneyMagazine named Olathe, Kansas one of the 100 best U.S. cities to live in, ranking it at number 11. Olathe, Kansas was so ranked because of its ample job opportunities, low unemployment, good public schools, and relatively low cost of living. Many professionals, such as lawyers, have relocated to Olathe, Kansas in recent years, making it one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States.

One of the largest employers in Olathe, Kansas is an air traffic control facility run by the Department of Transportation. It is one of 20 such facilities in America, and it monitors and directs most air traffic in the region.

If you live in Olathe, Kansas, and are in need of legal services, you will almost certainly be able to find an Olathe, Kansas attorney who can help.

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