Suing for Punitive Damages in Moline

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Litigation Lawyers in Moline

In Moline, Illinois, civil litigation serves the main purpose of compensating individuals who have been victims of wrongdoing, and not meting out punishment, vengeance, or moral judgment.

There is an exception to this basic rule, however: in certain cases, a court in Moline, Illinois will award damages designed to punish the wrongdoer, and deter others from future wrongdoing. This practice is identified as "punitive damages."

Courts in Moline, Illinois do not authorize punitive damages in most cases. The civil litigation system is geared against authorizing financial windfalls to civil plaintiffs. But, there are rare cases, where the defendant has done something to the plaintiff that is so morally reprehensible, that society's interest in punishing the defendant and deterring comparable misconduct outweighs the civil justice system's preference against punitive damages.

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Moline, Illinois

Personal injury litigation doesn't typically carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in Moline, Illinois, because typically 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 Moline, Illinois.

Punitive damages in Moline, Illinois 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 Moline, Illinois 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.

It's essential to note that in Moline, Illinois, punitive damages are not unlimited. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that punitive damages cannot be hugely disproportionate to the amount awarded to compensate the plaintiff for the actual injuries they suffered. If the punitive damages are extremely excessive, an appeals court might rule that they amount to a deprivation of property without due process of law, or a de facto criminal punishment, without affording the defendant the protections available in criminal cases.

In general, punitive damages in Moline, Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Moline, Illinois Attorney Help?

Moline, Illinois'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 located in Moline, Illinois, 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 a Moline, Illinois civil litigation attorney

Talk to a Law Attorney now!

Life in Moline

Moline is located in Illinois's Rock Island County. It has a population of over 45,000 people. Moline and East Moline make up the Quad Cities of Illinois.

In the mid 1990s, Moline transformed itself to increase its central business district's appeal. Some of Moline's largest employers include Deere Company, Black Hawk College, Group O, McLaughlin Body Company, Wal-Mart, the school district, John Deere Seenig Group, Kone, and the city.

Moline is not far from Chicago, and therefore residents have access to Chicago's superior legal force.

Some popular sites include Prospect Park, Hamilton Heights, Wildwood, Uptown, Wharton, and Karsten's Park.

Overall, Moline is a great place to live and visit!

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