Suing for Punitive Damages in Grand Junction

Find the right Litigation attorney in Grand Junction, CO

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Litigation Lawyers in Grand Junction

In Grand Junction, Colorado, 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 circumstances, courts in Grand Junction, Colorado 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.

You should be aware that courts in Grand Junction, Colorado 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 Grand Junction, Colorado

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

Punitive damages in Grand Junction, Colorado are only awarded in the most extreme cases. Fraud, theft, assault, battery, and other intentional, immoral acts are grounds for punitive damages. Grand Junction, Colorado courts will consider several 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 conduct 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 Grand Junction, Colorado. 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.

Generally, in Grand Junction, Colorado, 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, however, and is applied on a case-by-case basis. Courts in Colorado have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a Grand Junction, Colorado Attorney Help?

In Grand Junction, Colorado, there are a virtually unlimited number of situtations in which punitive damages can be awarded.

If you are located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and are involved 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 a Grand Junction, Colorado civil litigation attorney

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Life in Grand Junction

Grand Junction, Colorado is a home-rule municipality, and the county seat of Mesa County, Colorado. According to a Census estimate from 2009, Grand Junction has a population of about 59,000 people. The city is located on the Colorado river, near where it receives the Gunnison River, hence the name "Grand Junction." Modernly, the city serves as an extremely important hub for commerce and transportation in its region. Grand Junction also grew rapidly in the 1970s and 80s, thanks to large deposits of oil shale. This was when technologies used to extract oil from shale became widely available. However, extracting oil from shale is still more expensive than simply drilling for it, and when oil prices began to decline, it ceased to be economically viable. This led to significant economic hardship for the region. In recent years, however, the economy of Grand Junction, Colorado has diversified and stabilized, eliminating the risks that arise when an economy becomes dependent on a single industry. It is a vibrant center for many industries, including healthcare, agriculture, livestock, and tourism. Grand Junction is near a major mountain resort, and it has become a popular destination for wealthy travelers. If you live in Grand Junction, and are facing any legal issue, whether it involves starting a business, adopting a child, taking out a mortgage, or writing a will, the chances that you'll be able to find a good Grand Junction, Colorado lawyer are excellent.

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