What is the difference between compensatory damages and consequential damages?

Asked by: Susan Ebert II  |  Last update: November 2, 2022
Score: 5/5 (26 votes)

Compensatory damages compensate for the special loss suffered; consequential damages compensate for the foreseeable consequences of the breach; incidental damages compensate for the costs of keeping any more damages from occurring; nominal damages are awarded if the actual amount cannot be shown or there are no actual ...

What are the 3 types of compensatory damages?

The three types of damages are economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

What is an example of compensatory damages?

A compensatory damages example is if a negligent driver hit your 2008 Honda and totaled it; the compensatory damages should equal the market value of your 2008 Honda at the time of its demise, less any scrap or salvage value, and you could be entitled to the fair market value of the vehicle.

What are examples of consequential damages?

Commonly, consequential damages include property damage, personal injury, attorneys' fee, lost profits, loss of use, liability of buyer to customers, loss of goodwill, interest on money withheld by customers, and damages related to third party claims.

Can you get compensatory and consequential damages?

Consequential damages are indirect damages that a claimant suffers as a result of a breach of contract. Although consequential damages are far less common than compensatory damages, courts will award them under the right circumstances.

Contract Law Remedies for Breach: Damages (Compensatory, Incidental, Consequential)

21 related questions found

What is the difference between compensatory damages and consequential damages What are nominal damages and when do courts award nominal damages?

Compensatory damages compensate for the special loss suffered; consequential damages compensate for the foreseeable consequences of the breach; incidental damages compensate for the costs of keeping any more damages from occurring; nominal damages are awarded if the actual amount cannot be shown or there are no actual ...

What are the 3 types of damages?

Types of Damages
  • COMPENSATORY. Compensatory damages are generally the most identifiable and concrete type of damages. ...
  • GENERAL. General damages are sought in conjunction with compensatory damages. ...
  • PUNITIVE. Punitive damages are meant to punish a Defendant for particularly egregious conduct.

What is meant by consequential damages?

Damages suffered because of the injured party's particular circumstances. Also called special damages, since they result from a breach of contract and yet would not necessarily be incurred by every injured party experiencing that breach.

What is the difference between consequential and indirect damages?

Consequential damages are also referred to as special damages or indirect damages. Such indirect damages are damages that do not necessarily flow from the breach of contract but are secondary in nature or indirect to breach.

How do you prove consequential damages?

Actual Consequential Damages

To recover consequential damages, the claimant must prove they were (1) proximately caused by the breach and (2) were reasonably foreseeable at the time the parties entered into the contract. Determining foreseeability is one challenge, yet the more difficult hurdle is proving the amount.

What is meant by compensatory damages?

Damages: An Overview

Compensatory damages, like the name suggests, are intended to compensate the injured party for loss or injury. Punitive damages are awarded to punish a wrongdoer.

What is the meaning of compensatory damage?

us. (also actual damages) LAW. the amount of money that a court orders to be paid to someone in return for something that has been lost or damaged: The plaintiff is seeking $20 million in compensatory damages .

What is difference between damages and compensation?

Damages are awarded for suffering injury while compensation stands on a higher footing. Compensation aims to place the injured party back in a position as if the injury has not taken place by way of pecuniary relief for the caused injury.

What three 3 Things Must a court consider in reviewing punitive damages?

To ensure that unconstitutional punishment is not imposed in the form of punitive damages, the Court has set forth three "guideposts" for courts to consider in reviewing punitive damages awards: "(1) the degree of reprehensibility of the defendant's misconduct; (2) the disparity between the actual or potential harm ...

Is consequential loss recoverable?

By definition, therefore, consequential losses are exceptional and often not recoverable. Direct loss is the natural result of the breach in the usual course of things. Most foreseeable kinds of loss are direct, including financial losses such as loss of profits and loss of business or goodwill.

Why do we waive consequential damages?

Because the waiver of consequential damages can significantly control the amount of damages for which a contractor is assuming risk and greatly limit the owner's ability to recoup many damages, it is arguably the most important provision in a construction contract.

Which is an example of a consequential or indirect loss?

Till the owner purchases a new set of machinery, the operations will remain halted. This loss due to the halting of daily business operations is an example of consequential loss as it is an indirect loss. It is not covered under the insurance for direct losses.

What is the difference between actual and consequential damages?

While the actual definition of consequential and direct damages seems relatively straightforward, in practice they can become a bit more muddled. In general terms, direct damages immediately stem from the contractual breach, while consequential damages are still related to the breach but without a direct correlation.

When can consequential damages be awarded?

An Explanation of Consequential Damages

The failure resulted in a breach of contract. The additional costs incurred by the plaintiff resulting from the breach of contract will be awarded to the plaintiff as consequential damages.

Is pain and suffering a consequential damage?

Compensatory damages may be imposed for a person's pain and suffering. These are called nonpecuniary damages because they are difficult to quantify, but they are nevertheless viewed as legitimate compensation for a legally recognized harm.

How do I seek compensatory damages?

If you want to seek compensatory damages, pull together all the documents you have that relate to any expenses you incurred as a result of the injury or property loss you sustained. Compensatory damages aren't limited solely to costs to replace or repair damaged property or doctor's bills for your injury.

What are compensatory nominal and punitive damages?

The law recognizes three major categories of damages: COMPENSATORY DAMAGES, which are intended to restore what a plaintiff has lost as a result of a defendant's wrongful conduct; nominal damages, which consist of a small sum awarded to a plaintiff who has suffered no substantial loss or injury but has nevertheless ...

What are compensatory damages and what is the standard measure of compensatory damages?

Compensatory Damages. Compensatory damages (also called “actual damages”) cover the loss the nonbreaching party incurred as a result of the breach of contract. The amount awarded is intended to make good or replace the loss caused by the breach.

What are the four types of damages?

One of the most common remedies comes in the form of damages, or monetary awards, which are further broken down into four general categories.
  • Compensatory Damages. Compensatory damages (or “actual damages”) are specifically meant to make up for the plaintiff's losses. ...
  • Punitive Damages. ...
  • Liquidation Damages. ...
  • Nominal Damages.

Are compensatory damages taxable?

As a matter of law, compensatory damages awarded and received due to an underlying claim of personal physical injury or physical sickness are not considered items of gross income and therefore are not taxable.