Suing for Punitive Damages in Inglewood

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Litigation Lawyers in Inglewood

In Inglewood, California, the civil litigation system is primarily concerned with compensating the victims of wrongdoing, rather than punishing the wrongdoers, or casting moral blame upon them.

There is a major exception to this rule, however. In limited cases, courts in Inglewood, California will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff damages which are not directly tied to any harm suffered by the plaintiff. Rather, these damages, which are known as "punitive damages", are meant to punish the wrongdoer, and serve as a deterrent.

In Inglewood, California, 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 Inglewood, California

Typically personal injury cases in Inglewood, California do not involve punitive damages, because the defendant did not intend to cause harm, or act with some other form of malice. Alternatively, most of these cases involve situations where the defendant acted carelessly, but did not actually intend to cause harm. This is enough to award compensatory damages, but it is far from sufficient to award punitive damages in Inglewood, California.

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

You should be aware of the fact that there are some pretty severe limits on punitive damages in Inglewood, California. 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.

Punitive damages in Inglewood, California typically cannot exceed 10 times the amount of actual damages suffered by the plaintiff. However, this is just a guideline, and not a strict rule. Courts in California have found larger punitive damage awards to be perfectly valid, and smaller ones to be invalid. This will be highly dependent on the facts of each case.

How Can a Inglewood, California Attorney Help?

In Inglewood, California, there are an essentially unlimited number of situtations in which punitive damages can be awarded.

If you are located in Inglewood, California, and are engaged in a case that you think, based on the information conveyed above, that might have punitive damages as an option, you can't be sure what, if anything, you're entitled to from the defendant until you consult with an Inglewood, California civil litigation attorney

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Life in Inglewood

Inglewood, California is a city in Los Angeles County. It currently has a population of around 110,000 residents. It is located in the South Bay area of the Greater Los Angeles region.

Inglewood, California is a vibrant, diverse community. It is extremely ethnically diverse, as well as economically. Its relatively affordable housing makes it attractive to working class individuals, and its proximity to the Los Angeles area makes it attractive to middle-class professionals, such as lawyers.

Inglewood, California is noted for being the headquarters of the D.A.R.E. organization, which seeks to educate schoolchildren and young adults about the dangers of getting involved in violence and illegal drugs. D.A.R.E. employs hundreds of people at its headquarters, including several Inglewood, California attorneys.

If you live in Inglewood, California and are need of legal advice or legal services, you should not hesitate to call an Inglewood, California attorney as soon as possible.

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