Suing for Punitive Damages in Charlottesville

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Litigation Lawyers in Charlottesville

Civil litigation in Charlottesville, Virginia is concerned almost exclusively with providing financial redress to the victims of wrongdoing. It is not concerned with meting out punishment or moral judgment upon the wrongdoers.

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

In Charlottesville, Virginia, punitive damages are not awarded in many cases. This is because the civil litigation system strongly disfavors giving money to plaintiffs in amounts disproportionate to the injuries they have suffered. However, 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 Charlottesville, Virginia

A majority of personal injury litigation actions in Charlottesville, Virginia do not involve the possibility of punitive damages, because they typically involve injuries where the defendant is at fault for the harm caused, but did not intend to do any harm. In Charlottesville, Virginia, accidental harm may be enough to award the plaintiff compensatory damages, but it is not enough for punitive damages.

Punitive damages in Charlottesville, Virginia are not granted 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 Charlottesville, Virginia 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.

However, in Charlottesville, Virginia, the law places limits on punitive damages. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled several 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 Charlottesville, Virginia cannot be more than 10 times larger than the actual damages suffered by the plaintiff. However, this is not an absolute rule, and appeals courts in Virginia have upheld much larger awards, and found much smaller awards to be invalid. It's determined on a case-by-case basis.

How Can a Charlottesville, Virginia Attorney Help?

In Charlottesville, Virginia, there are a large number of cases in which punitive damages are appropriate, because the decision to grant punitive damages is largely up to the discretion of the jury.

If you are located in Charlottesville, Virginia, 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 Charlottesville, Virginia civil litigation attorney

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Life in Charlottesville

Charlottesville is an independent city surrounded by Albemarle County. Being an independent city, it is not actually legally part of the county in which it sits. It runs its own affairs, and unlike other cities, the government of the county in which it sits has no jurisdiction over it. It has a population of about 41,000 people.

Charlottesville was named in 2004 as the best place to live in the United States, in the book Cities Ranked and Rated, due in part to its high quality of life, low cost of living, and mild climate.

The city of Charlottesville is steeped in history. It was the home of presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. It is home to the University of Virginia, which was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. Along with Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's estate), the university is an UNESCO World Heritage Site - having been recognized by the United Nations as a place of special historical significance to all of mankind. It is the only university in the U.S., and one of the only manmade structures in the U.S., to be designated a World Heritage Site.

The University of Virginia has one of the best law schools in the country, so you don't need to worry about finding a good Charlottesville, Virginia lawyer, if you ever need one. Charlottesville lawyers are ready to take just about any case that you're likely to face.

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