Suing for Punitive Damages in Boulder City

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Litigation Lawyers in Boulder City

The civil litigation system in Boulder City, Nevada 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.

This general principle is subject to an important exception, however. There are cases where a judge in Boulder City, Nevada will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff a sum of money which is not calculated based on actual harm the plaintiff has suffered. These are called "punitive damages" and serve the purpose of punishing and deterring wrongdoing.

In Boulder City, Nevada, punitive damages are not awarded in many cases. This is because the civil litigation system strongly disfavors giving money to plaintiffs in amounts disproportionate to the injuries they have suffered. However, in some cases, the conduct of the defendant is so reprehensible, that simply punishing the defendant is a worthy goal, and this interest outweighs the preference against giving civil plaintiffs financial windfalls.

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Boulder City, Nevada

A majority of personal injury litigation actions in Boulder City, Nevada 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 Boulder City, Nevada, accidental harm may be enough to award the plaintiff compensatory damages, but it is not enough for punitive damages.

In Boulder City, Nevada, punitive damages are not awarded in most cases. They are typically only awarded when the defendant's conduct was so reckless or deplorable that punishment of the defendant is warranted. Acts such as battery, fraud, and defamation (in some cases) are usually considered sufficient in Boulder City, Nevada to justify punitive damages. In deciding whether to award punitive damages, and how much to award, the two most important factors the court looks at will be the level of immorality of the act, as well as the actual harm that the plaintiff suffered as a result of the defendant's conduct.

However, in Boulder City, Nevada, the law places limits on punitive damages. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled several times that punitive damages cannot be grossly disproportionate to the evil nature of the conduct, and the injuries that the defendant suffered. If they are disproportionate, punitive damages might be considered a deprivation of the defendant's right to due process of law.

A good rule of thumb for calculating the upper limit of punitive damages in Boulder City, Nevada is that punitive damages can be no larger than compensatory damages times ten. This rule is not absolute, of course. Courts in Nevada have a good deal of discretion in awarding punitive damages, and will determine them based on the facts of each case. Because of this, punitive damage awards larger than 10 times compensatory damages are sometimes upheld, while much smaller awards have been overturned, because they were deemed excessive in a particular case.

How Can a Boulder City, Nevada Attorney Help?

In Boulder City, Nevada, there are an essentially unlimited number of situtations in which punitive damages can be awarded.

If you live in Boulder City, Nevada and are involved in a case that you believe carries the possibility of a punitive damage award, you may be entitled to a large amount of money from the person or company that injured you. To know for sure, you should speak with a civil litigation attorney in Boulder City, Nevada.

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Life in Boulder City

Boulder City is a Clark County municipality that is about 20 miles outside of Las Vegas and home to 15,000 residents. Originally constructed as housing for Hoover Dam workers, Boulder City was founded in 1932. To keep workers focused on their work the city prohibited alcohol sales, gambling, and membership in unions. It is one of only two cities in Nevada today that still prohibits gambling and is notoriously known as a speed trap for people passing through to Las Vegas. Unsurprisingly, there are a number of very experienced lawyers in the area. Boulder City lawyers don't only do traffic cases but are actually experienced in many areas of law and practice in many different counties throughout Nevada.  

Money Magazine voted Boulder City the 6th best place to retire in the United States because it has affordable housing, medical care, tax rates, and a great arts and culture life. Boulder City has a total of 202.7 square miles making it the largest city in the State of Nevada. Locals enjoy access to the municipal golf course, pool, racquetball complex, tennis courts, BMX track, hiking trails, and nearby Lake Mead. 

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