Suing for Punitive Damages in Easton

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Litigation Lawyers in Easton

In Easton, Pennsylvania, civil litigation is not meant to punish wrongdoers, at least that is not its main purpose. Rather, it is designed to ensure that the victims of wrongdoing are given compensation for the harm they've suffered.

There is an exception to this basic rule, however: in certain cases, a court in Easton, Pennsylvania will award damages designed to punish the wrongdoer, and deter others from future wrongdoing. This practice is known as "punitive damages."

You should be cognizant that courts in Easton, Pennsylvania are not especially fond of authorizing 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 Easton, Pennsylvania

Personal injury litigation doesn't usually carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in Easton, Pennsylvania, 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 Easton, Pennsylvania.

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

There are limits on punitive damages in Easton, Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court has held that punitive damage awards which are grossly disproportionate to the immorality of the conduct, and the harm that it caused, are an unconstitutional deprivation of property without due process of law.

In Easton, Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania, 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 Easton, Pennsylvania Attorney Help?

Easton, Pennsylvania's courts have wide discretion in awarding punitive damages. Therefore, it is impossible to comprehensively discuss all the situations in which punitive damages can arise.

If you are involved in a case in Easton, Pennsylvania 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 an Easton, Pennsylvania civil litigation attorney as soon as possible.

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Life in Easton

Easton, Pennsylvania is a city in Northampton County. Its population is currently about 27,000 people. It is the county seat of Northampton County.

Easton is very close to the same distance from Philadelphia and New York city, with Philadelphia 60 miles to the south, and New York City about 70 miles to the east. The puts residents of Easton in a position where they have fairly easy access to two iconic American cities.

Easton, Pennsylvania was founded in the 1752, and was named after a town in England of the same name (many English settlements are, for obvious reasons, named after English cities). It proved to be an important military center during the Revolutionary War, and it was one of the first places where the Declaration of Independence was publicly read.

Modernly, Easton is home to the Crayola factory, a major toy manufacturer. Like many cities in the region, Easton, Pennsylvania used to have far more industry than it does now.

If you have a legal problem, there are plenty of Easton, Pennsylvania lawyers who can help you solve it, or at least mitigate it. If you need legal help, you should contact an Easont, Pennsylvania lawyer immediately.

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