Nominal Damages (Noun)
Meaning
(law) a trivial sum (usually $1.00) awarded as recognition that a legal injury was sustained (as for technical violations of a contract).
Classification
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession.
Examples
- The court awarded the plaintiff nominal damages of $1.00 for the defendant's breach of contract, acknowledging the technical violation but finding no significant harm was done.
- The jury found in favor of the plaintiff, but awarded only nominal damages, indicating that while the defendant was liable, the plaintiff had not suffered any substantial loss.
- The judge ruled that the defendant had indeed breached the contract, but awarded nominal damages to the plaintiff, as the breach had caused no actual harm or financial loss.
- The court's decision to award nominal damages reflected its finding that the defendant's actions, while technically wrongful, had not caused the plaintiff any significant injury or financial harm.
- The plaintiff was awarded nominal damages of one dollar, as the court found that while the defendant had technically breached the contract, the breach had caused no actual harm or loss to the plaintiff.