Suing for Punitive Damages in Middletown

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Litigation Lawyers in Middletown

In Middletown, Connecticut, 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 Middletown, Connecticut 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 Middletown, Connecticut 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 Middletown, Connecticut

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

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

It's necessary to know that punitive damages in Middletown, Connecticut are subject to limits. The Supreme Court of the United States has held, more than once, that punitive damages can't be grossly disproportionate to the actual harm suffered by the plaintiff. Grossly excessive punitive damage awards are unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has held, because they amount to the government taking property from the defendant without due process of law.

In general, punitive damages in Middletown, Connecticut cannot be more than 10 times larger than the actual damages suffered by the plaintiff. However, this is not an absolute rule, and appeals courts in Connecticut have upheld much larger awards, and found much smaller awards to be invalid. It's determined on a case-by-case basis.

How Can a Middletown, Connecticut Attorney Help?

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

If you are located in Middletown, Connecticut, 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 Middletown, Connecticut civil litigation attorney

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Life in Middletown

Middletown, Connecticut is a city in Middlesex County. Its population is about 47,000 people, according to a 2005 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The first foreign settlement of the area now known as Middletown came in 1650, by emigrants from a settlement nearby, which had been established a few years earlier. These settlers were Puritans, and during their period of influence, life was harsh. Some of this harshness was self-inflicted, in the form of extremely draconian laws, which allowed the death penalty for "crimes" such as cursing, blasphemy, and "incorrigible stubbornness of children."

During the Industrial Revolution, Middletown saw a major influx of immigrants from various parts of Europe, including Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Poland. This diversity is evidenced even today, with Middletown's various neighborhoods and ethnic restaurants (for which the city is becoming increasingly well-known), and the general cultural diversity of the city. Modernly, Middletown is a residential community, with the Middlesex Hospital being one of the largest employers.

If you live in Middletown, Connecticut, and need an attorney, you're in luck. There are many Middletown, Connecticut lawyers who can handle virtually any type of legal problem a person might have.

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