Suing for Punitive Damages in Mansfield

Find the right Litigation attorney in Mansfield, OH

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Litigation Lawyers in Mansfield

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

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. In Mansfield, Ohio, courts will, in relatively rare cases, require defendants to pay plaintiffs sums of money which aren't calculated by the actual harm and costs the plaintiff has incurred. Instead, these "punitive damages," as they are called, are meant to punish and deter wrongdoing.

It's critical to note that courts in Mansfield, Ohio prefer not to grant punitive damages. This is because the civil justice system is designed primarily to compensate the victims of wrongdoing. However, there are some cases where the defendant's conduct was so immoral and evil that civil courts have an interest in making them pay additional damages, going above and beyond what's needed to compensate the victim, in order to serve as a deterrent.

Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Mansfield, Ohio

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

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

There are limits on punitive damages in Mansfield, Ohio. The Supreme Court has held that punitive damage awards which are grossly disproportionate to the immorality of the conduct, and the harm that it caused, are an unconstitutional deprivation of property without due process of law.

Generally, in Mansfield, Ohio, 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 Ohio have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a Mansfield, Ohio Attorney Help?

The law of Mansfield, Ohio doesn't lay out many strict conditions which are required before punitive damages can be granted. Instead, it largely leaves it to the discretion of the courts. So, there are several situations where they might be awarded.

If you live in Mansfield, Ohio 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 money from the person or company that injured you. To know for sure, you should speak with a civil litigation attorney in Mansfield, Ohio.

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Life in Mansfield

Mansfield, Ohio is a city in Richland County, for which it also serves as the county seat. Mansfield has a population of just under 50,000 people. Mansfield has adopted the official nickname "The Fun Center of Ohio."

Mansfield was originally settled in 1808, it was incorporated in 1828, and chartered as a city in 1857. Mansfield began to experience significant economic growth in the mid-1800s, when the railroads arrived, making available to the areaa much wider variety of goods and services.

While Mansfield was once a thriving industrial center, but like many cities in the Rust Belt, it saw a major economic decline in the 1970s. While there are still some manufacturers in Mansfield who provide a major economic boost to the city, the city has understandably been undertaking to diversify its economy, to lessen its dependence on any single economic sector.

To that end, Mansfield has promoted itself as a filming location for the movie industry. Its historic buildings, and presence of some abandoned structures, enable it to stand in for settings all over the world.

If you live in Mansfield, Ohio, and need a lawyer, it's likely that you'll be able to find the right Mansfield, Ohio attorney to meet your legal needs.

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