Suing for Punitive Damages in Eden Prairie

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Litigation Lawyers in Eden Prairie

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

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. In Eden Prairie, Minnesota, 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. Instead, these "punitive damages," as they are called, are meant to punish and deter wrongdoing.

Courts in Eden Prairie, Minnesota 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 Eden Prairie, Minnesota

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

Punitive damages in Eden Prairie, Minnesota are only awarded in the most extreme cases. Fraud, theft, assault, battery, and other intentional, immoral acts are grounds for punitive damages. Eden Prairie, Minnesota courts will consider several factors in considering whether or not to award punitive damages. For instance, the court might employ a sliding scale that weighs the immorality of the defendant's conduct against the actual harm that it caused to the plaintiff, and calculate damages accordingly.

It's necessary to know that punitive damages in Eden Prairie, Minnesota 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 Eden Prairie, Minnesota, punitive damage awards are typically (but not always) capped at 10 times the amount awarded in compensatory damages. Remember, however, that this is just a basic rule of thumb, and is not completely rigid. In Minnesota, appeals courts have a good deal of discretion in deciding if a punitive damage award is valid or invalid. Much larger awards have been upheld, and smaller awards have been overturned. The validity of a specific punitive damage award will depend heavily on the facts of each case.

How Can a Eden Prairie, Minnesota Attorney Help?

In Eden Prairie, Minnesota, there are a practically unlimited number of situtations in which punitive damages can be awarded.

If you have been injured in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and you think punitive damages might be justified, a large amount of money might be at stake. For that reason, you should not delay to consult a civil litigation attorney in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

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Life in Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie, Minnesota is a city directly outside downtown Minneapolis. Its population is approximately 50,000 people.

There are many scenic lakes and ponds in Eden Prairie, and the city has over 170 miles of hiking trails to take advantage of this scenery, along with over 2,200 acres of parks, and 1,300 acres of open space.

Until the early 1960s, Eden Prairie was largely a bedroom community for the nearby cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul (a community consisting almost entirely of residences, where residents commute to a larger city for work). However, it now boasts over 2,000 businesses, and hosts major offices of many large businesses in the healthcare, logistics, retail, and distribution industries.

Money Magazine frequently names Eden Prairie as one of the best places in America to live, thanks to a variety of industries creating many different types of jobs, its natural scenery, the quality of its public schools, among many other factors.

Furthermore, there are plenty of Eden Prairie, Minnesota lawyers who can provide virtually any legal services you might need. Eden Prairie, Minnesota lawyers can handle almost any kind of case.

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