Define nominal damages.

Define nominal damages.

• A. Reimburses actual losses
• B. A small amount of damages given to a party who wins but can show NO monetary injury.
• C. Damages for punitive acts
• D. Liquidated damages

Answer: (B)

Nominal damages are a symbolic remedy awarded when a court finds a legal wrong occurred but the plaintiff did not suffer any measurable financial loss. They acknowledge the violation and establish the plaintiff’s rights without awarding compensation for actual injury, often in a tiny sum such as one dollar. This differs from damages that reimburse actual losses, which aim to make the plaintiff whole for proven harm. It is not punitive damages, which punish wrongful conduct, nor liquidated damages, which are pre-determined by contract.

Nominal damages are a symbolic remedy awarded when a court finds a legal wrong occurred but the plaintiff did not suffer any measurable financial loss. They acknowledge the violation and establish the plaintiff’s rights without awarding compensation for actual injury, often in a tiny sum such as one dollar. This differs from damages that reimburse actual losses, which aim to make the plaintiff whole for proven harm. It is not punitive damages, which punish wrongful conduct, nor liquidated damages, which are pre-determined by contract.