Suing for Punitive Damages in Brick

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Litigation Lawyers in Brick

The civil litigation system in Brick, New Jersey is designed to provide compensation for persons who are injured because of the unlawful conduct of others. It is not much concerned with punishing or deterring wrongdoers.

Nonetheless, this general principle has a major exception. In rare cases, a Brick, New Jersey judge or jury can award damages to the plaintiff that are not calculated by the actual losses sustained. Instead, they serve the purpose of punishing the defendant, and deterring others from wrongdoing. These are called "punitive damages."

You should be cognizant that courts in Brick, New Jersey are not especially fond of authorizing 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 Brick, New Jersey

Personal injury litigation doesn't usually carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in Brick, New Jersey, 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 Brick, New Jersey.

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

Nonetheless, in Brick, New Jersey, the law places limits on punitive damages. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled numerous times that punitive damages cannot be grossly disproportionate to the evil nature of the conduct, and the injuries that the defendant suffered. If they are disproportionate, punitive damages might be considered a deprivation of the defendant's right to due process of law.

In general, punitive damages in Brick, New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 Brick, New Jersey Attorney Help?

In Brick, New Jersey, judges and juries have a good deal of leeway in deciding if they want to grant punitive damages, so there are a nearly-unlimited number of circumstances that can lead to a punitive damage award.

If you live in Brick, New Jersey and are involved in a case that you believe carries the possibility of a punitive damage award, you may be entitled to a large amount of funds from the person or company that injured you. To know for sure, you should speak with a civil litigation attorney in Brick, New Jersey.

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Life in Brick

Brick, also known as "Brick Township," is located in Ocean County, New Jersey. Per the 2010 census, 75,072 people call Brick home. Brick is surrounded by the Barnegat Peninsula, Lakewood Township and Toms River Township. In 2006 Brick was named "America's Safest City" in a survey of over 371 cities nationwide. Another reason why Brick is known is due to the autism epidemic. A study was conducted in Brick in which forty out of six thousand children were found to be autistic.

Brick is home to attorneys who practice in various areas of law. Their vast practice and sharp skills allow these attorneys to cater to the legal needs of residents and local businesses.

Some famous people who have called Brick home include Harry Bernstein, Jim Dowd, Kirsten Dunst, Garrett Graham, Jack Martin, Travis Spader, and Warren Wolf.

Brick, overall, offers its residents a small-town charm and a safe place to call home.

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