Suing for Punitive Damages in Derry

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Litigation Lawyers in Derry

The civil litigation system in Derry, New Hampshire is designed to provide compensation for individuals who are injured because of the unlawful conduct of others. It is not much concerned with punishing or deterring wrongdoers.

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

You should be aware that courts in Derry, New Hampshire are not particularly fond of granting 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 Derry, New Hampshire

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

In Derry, New Hampshire, punitive damages are only awarded in extreme circumstances. 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 Derry, New Hampshire will consider many different factors. Usually, 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 aware of the fact that there are some pretty severe limits on punitive damages in Derry, New Hampshire. 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 large amounts of property.

In general, punitive damages in Derry, New Hampshire cannot be more than 10 times larger than the actual damages suffered by the plaintiff. However, this is not an absolute rule, and appeals courts in New Hampshire have upheld much larger awards, and found much smaller awards to be invalid. It's determined on a case-by-case basis.

How Can a Derry, New Hampshire Attorney Help?

In Derry, New Hampshire, there are a large number of cases 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 involved in a case in Derry, New Hampshire that you believe might entitle you to punitive damages, a lot of money could be at stake. So, if you want to pursue your legal remedies, you should see a Derry, New Hampshire civil litigation attorney as soon as possible.

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Life in Derry

Named after a city in Ireland, Derry, New Hampshire is located an hour Boston and an hour from the Great White Mountains of New Hampshire. With a location like that, it is no wonder people enjoy living and visiting Derry. Derry's Irish meaning is "oak woods." The town of Derry is located in Rockingham County and home to close to 35,000 residents.

Derry happens to be the fourth most populous community in the state of New Hampshire. Derry is home to wonderful museums and an opera house that make it an enjoyable place to live and visit. Derry also has a nationally recognized public and private school education system, a factor many parents in Derry enjoy.

With such a close proximity to Boston, home to Harvard Law School and Boston Law School (to name a few) it is no wonder that there are so many talented lawyers in Derry. Derry Lawyers specialize in a range of legal practices and are able to serve their local clients with a high level of competence. Lawyers in Derry can help their clients with any legal issue they may find themselves dealing with. Derry lawyers are just another positive aspect of this charming city.

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