Suing for Punitive Damages in St. George

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Litigation Lawyers in St. George

In St. George, Utah, civil litigation is not meant to punish wrongdoers, at least that is not its main purpose. Rather, it is designed to ensure that the victims of wrongdoing are given compensation for the harm they've suffered.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. In St. George, Utah, courts will, in fairly 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.

Courts in St. George, Utah 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 St. George, Utah

Personal injury litigation doesn't usually carry with it the possibility of punitive damages in St. George, Utah, 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 St. George, Utah.

Punitive damages in St. George, Utah are not authorized in many cases. They are only awarded when the defendant's conduct 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 St. George, Utah will be considered. Furthermore, 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.

Nonetheless, in St. George, Utah, the law places limits on punitive damages. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled various 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.

Punitive damages in St. George, Utah usually cannot surpass 10 times the amount of actual damages suffered by the plaintiff. Nonetheless, this is just a guideline, and not a strict rule. Courts in Utah have found larger punitive damage awards to be perfectly valid, and smaller ones to be invalid. This will be strongly dependent on the facts of each case.

How Can a St. George, Utah Attorney Help?

In St. George, Utah, there are a practically unlimited number of situtations in which punitive damages can be awarded.

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

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Life in St. George

St. George is located in the southwestern party of Utah, and is part of Washington County. The city is known because of its proximity to Las Vegas, Nevada and to Salt Lake City. Surrounding sites include the Mojave Desert, Pine Valley Mountains, and Zion National Park.

Top employers in St. George include SkyWest Airlines, Wal-Mart, Intermountain Health Care, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Zion National Park. As evidence, tourism is a driving force in St. George's economy. This being said, the legal industry also has a presence in St. George because many attorneys have settled in St. George. They practice in small law offices offering legal services in various areas of law. Therefore, residents have local attorneys that are competent to tackle all of their legal needs.

Famous residents include Julius Erving, Bruce Hurst, Doug Jolley, Jay Don Blake, and Lavell Edwards.

Moreover, famous movies filmed in St. George include High School Musical 2, Jurassic Park, On Our Own, and Romancing the Stone.

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