Suing for Punitive Damages in Salinas

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Litigation Lawyers in Salinas

In Salinas, California, the civil litigation system is mainly 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 Salinas, California will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff damages which are not directly tied to any harm sustained by the plaintiff. Rather, these damages, which are known as "punitive damages", are meant to punish the wrongdoer, and serve as a deterrent.

It's essential to note that courts in Salinas, California prefer not to grant punitive damages. This is because the civil justice system is designed mainly to compensate the victims of wrongdoing. Nonetheless, there are some cases where the defendant's conduct was so immoral and evil that civil courts have an interest in making them pay further damages, going above and beyond what's needed to compensate the victim, in order to serve as a deterrent.

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Salinas, California

Typically personal injury cases in Salinas, California involve injuries that the defendant did not intend to cause, but was still at fault in causing them (through negligence, for instance). In Salinas, California, this is not enough to justify the award of punitive damages.

Punitive damages in Salinas, California are not authorized in many cases. They are only awarded when the defendant's behavior was so deplorable and deliberate (but not necessarily criminal) that punishment is warranted. Fraud, battery, conversion (theft) and other intentional, insidious acts are usually required before punitive damages in Salinas, California will be considered. Moreover, in deciding how much to award in punitive damages, a court will consider 2 main factors: the insidious nature of the defendant's conduct, and the actual harm that the plaintiff suffered as a result.

There are limits on punitive damages in Salinas, California. 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.

Usually, in Salinas, California, punitive damage awards that exceed the actual damages (those awarded to directly compensate the plaintiff) by a factor of 10. This is not an absolute rule, nonetheless, and is applied on a case-by-case basis. Courts in California have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a Salinas, California Attorney Help?

In Salinas, California, there are a large variety of situations 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 engaged in a case in Salinas, California where punitive damages are a possibility, a very large amount of money could be at stake, whether you are the plaintiff or defendant. You should not delay to speak with a civil litigation attorney in Salinas, California

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Life in Salinas

Salinas, California is a city in Monterey County. It is the county seat of that county, as well as its largest city. It has a population of over 150,000 people.

Salinas has a long and interesting history. It was first settled by humans as early as the year 200 AD, nearly 2,000 years ago. In the 1700s, Spanish Catholic missionaries settled the area, and Salinas soon became known as a major agricultural center, owing to its fertile soil and abundance of open space. When California became part of the United States in the mid-1800s, settlement by Americans from other parts of the country skyrocketed.

Modernly, the economy of Salinas, California is heavily based on agriculture. Several large agribusiness firms are major employers in Salinas, CA. Unlike many American cities its size, the workforce of Salinas is still largely blue collar, with most of those workers employed in agriculture. Because the agriculture business is sometimes known for strained relations between workers and management, a large number of labor and employment lawyers from Salinas, CA have set up shop, representing both employers and employees. There are also many lawyers in Salinas who practice other areas of law. Many lawyers are drawn to Salinas, CA because of its quiet atmosphere and pleasant climate.

Needless to say, whatever legal issue you may be facing, there's probably a Salinas, California lawyer who can help you with it.

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