Suing for Punitive Damages in Norwich

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Litigation Lawyers in Norwich

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

This basic principle is subject to an significant exception, however. There are cases where a judge in Norwich, Connecticut will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff a sum of money which is not calculated based on actual harm the plaintiff has suffered. These are called "punitive damages" and serve the purpose of punishing and deterring wrongdoing.

In Norwich, Connecticut, punitive damages are not awarded in many cases. This is because the civil litigation system highly disfavors giving money to plaintiffs in amounts disproportionate to the injuries they have suffered. Nonetheless, 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 Norwich, Connecticut

The vast majority of personal injury lawsuits in Norwich, Connecticut involve cases in which the defendant did not intend to harm the plaintiff, but did so through carelessness. This is not enough to award punitive damages in Norwich, Connecticut.

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

You should be cognizant of the fact that there are some pretty severe limits on punitive damages in Norwich, Connecticut. 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.

In general, punitive damages in Norwich, Connecticut cannot be more than 10 times larger than the actual damages sustained by the plaintiff. Nonetheless, 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 decided on a case-by-case basis.

How Can a Norwich, Connecticut Attorney Help?

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

If you are engaged in a case in Norwich, Connecticut that you believe might entitle you to punitive damages, a lot of money could be at stake. Thus, if you want to pursue your legal remedies, you should see a Norwich, Connecticut civil litigation attorney as soon as possible.

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Life in Norwich

Norwich, Connecticut is a city in New London County. It was the county seat of that county, before the state of Connecticut did away with county governments. It currently has a population of about 36,000 people.

Norwich is named after Norwich, England, and was founded by English settlers in 1659. By the late 1600s, a public landing had been built at the head of a nearby river, allowing ships to sail several miles inland to offload their goods. This allowed Norwich to serve as an important supply point for the colonists in the Revolutionary War, and proved invaluable to the war effort.

For well over 100 years after the revolution, the city of Norwich served continuously as a very important commercial shipping center, allowing for continuous economic growth.

Modernly, Norwich, Connecticut is a quiet residential community. It is home to Mohegan Park, a large forested area featuring several ponds and streams. This park provides ample recreational activities, such as fishing, hiking, and mountain biking in the summer, and ice skating and sledding in the winter.

If you live in Norwich, Connecticut and are in need of an attorney, it's highly likely that you'll be able to find one. Norwich, Connecticut attorneys are able to handle almost any legal issue they're faced with.

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