Suing for Punitive Damages in Greensboro

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Litigation Lawyers in Greensboro

The civil litigation system in Greensboro, North Carolina is designed to provide compensation for persons who are injured because of the unlawful conduct of others. It is not much concerned with punishing or deterring wrongdoers.

Nonetheless, this general principle has a major exception. In rare cases, a Greensboro, North Carolina judge or jury can award damages to the plaintiff that are not calculated by the actual losses sustained. Instead, they serve the purpose of punishing the defendant, and deterring others from wrongdoing. These are called "punitive damages."

Punitive Damages in Greensboro, North Carolina are not awarded easily, because the civil justice system usually 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 Greensboro, North Carolina

A majority of personal injury litigation actions in Greensboro, North Carolina do not involve the possibility of punitive damages, because they typically involve injuries where the defendant is at fault for the harm caused, but did not intend to do any harm. In Greensboro, North Carolina, accidental harm may be enough to award the plaintiff compensatory damages, but it is not enough for punitive damages.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, 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 Greensboro, North Carolina 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.

You should be cognizant of the fact that there are some pretty severe limits on punitive damages in Greensboro, North Carolina. 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 considerable amounts of property.

In general, punitive damages in Greensboro, North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 Greensboro, North Carolina Attorney Help?

The law of Greensboro, North Carolina doesn't lay out many strict conditions which are necessary before punitive damages can be authorized. Instead, it largely leaves it to the discretion of the courts. So, there are various situations where they might be awarded.

If you have been hurt in Greensboro, North Carolina 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 Greensboro, North Carolina.

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Life in Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina has many wonderful sights and attractions for everyone to enjoy. For those who really want to experience the culture of Greensboro, there is more than enough to see. Greensboro is filled with art galleries such as the Tyler White Gallery, Irene Cullis Gallery and the University of North Carolina's AT State University Gallery. Other cultural attractions include the Greensboro Symphony Hall, Livestock Players Musical Theatre, the International Civil Rights Center Museum, and the Greensboro Historical Museum.

For those who enjoy some history along with culture, Greenboro has many attractions that serve an educational purpose by displaying the area's rich history. These attractions include the Natural Science Center, Tannenbaum Historic Park, Bicentennial Garden David Caldwell Historic Park, The Greensboro Arboretum, and War Memorial Stadium. As you can see, each attraction in Greensboro includes a rich sense or culture or history. Greensboro therefore guarantees that no visitor leave without being touched with the area's rich culture and historical background.

Greensboro is also home to many prestigious law firms whose practices include all areas of law, from criminal defense, to environmental, to corporate. Therefore, the residents of Greensboro are ensured that their legal needs will be met by intelligent, reliable, and experienced lawyers capable of handling any legal matter.

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