What is the difference between punitive and compensatory damages?

Asked by: Prof. Kolby Powlowski PhD  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.2/5 (19 votes)

Compensatory damages are given to the injured victim to help pay for medical expenses and other damages created, while punitive damages are meant to penalize the at-fault party.

What is the difference between compensatory and punitive damages quizlet?

What is the difference between compensatory and punitive damages? Compensatory damages are intended to compensate the injured for the loss. When a tort is intentional, punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the person who committed the tort.

What are the 2 types of compensatory damages?

There are two types of compensatory damages—general and actual. Actual damages are intended to provide funds to only replace what was lost. General compensatory damages awarded are more complex, as these compensatory damages do not represent a monetary expenditure.

Can you receive both compensatory and punitive damages?

Judges or juries can award punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages in some lawsuits. California Civil Code 3294 allows juries to award them – but the victim in the case has to prove that the defendant's conduct amounted to malice, oppression or fraud, such as when the case involves intentional harm or ...

What is an example of a punitive damage?

Punitive damages are also called “exemplary damages,” which are damages assessed in the legal process to punish a defendant for negligence. ... Individuals can also be ordered to pay punitive damages that injure someone else due to negligent behavior. Examples of this would be drunk driving or distracted driving.

What is the difference between compensatory and punitive damages?

25 related questions found

How are compensatory damages calculated?

Add up the total replacement cost for your items. Add the other costs and fees that you have incurred in prosecuting the lawsuit, including your attorney fees, postage and filing fees. You can also include other losses for which you are entitled to compensation, such as loss of work or loss of lifestyle.

What is the purpose of compensatory damages?

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.

Are lost wages punitive damages?

In most cases, this involves a situation where there was intentional harm or extreme recklessness. Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages that normally include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. Punitive damage awards involves a defendant's intentional harm or extreme recklessness.

Are legal fees compensatory damages?

Compensatory damages for breach of contract do not include attorney fees. Attorney fees incurred to prosecute a motion to enforce a settlement agreement constitute litigation expenses rather than damages.

What is the difference between compensatory and aggravated damages?

The same conduct may give rise to aggravated and/or punitive damages. Aggravated damages are compensatory while punitive damages are intended to be punishment for wrongdoing. Aggravated damages require proof of injury while punitive damages do not.

What are the types of damages?

What are the different types of damages?
  • General and Special Damages.
  • Substantial Damages.
  • Aggravated and Exemplary Damages.
  • Liquidated and Unliquidated Damages.
  • Consequential Damage and Incidental Loss.

What are compensatory damages also known as?

Also known as actual damages. The amount of money awarded to a party in a civil action to compensate for an injury or loss caused by another party's unlawful conduct. The purpose of compensatory damages is to make the claimant "whole," not to punish the wrongdoer.

How do you ask for 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 is compensatory damages quizlet?

Compensatory damages are paid to compensate the plaintiff for loss, injury or harm suffered. Compensatory damages in tort are referred to as reliance damages. Compensatory damages in contract are referred to as expectation damages.

What is the commonality of compensatory punitive and NOminal 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 is punitive damages quizlet?

What are punitive damages? Damages awarded that are intended to punish the defendant for conduct that is extreme and outrageous.

What is the difference between punitive damages and pain and suffering?

Damages for pain and suffering are a type of compensatory damages. Punitive damages are damages which are assessed against the defendant for egregious misconduct and are intended to punish the defendant and to deter others from similar misconduct.

Which injuries are eligible for compensatory damages?

General Compensatory Damages
  • Disfigurement.
  • Mental anguish.
  • Future lost wages.
  • Future medical expenses.
  • Loss of consortium.
  • Long-term physical pain and suffering.
  • Loss of opportunity.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life.

What is compensatory relief?

Compensatory Relief

This is the type of relief with which most people are familiar. This is suing someone in an effort to obtain monetary compensation for damage or injuries that person or entity caused the plaintiff. Often, attorneys and courts will refer to the money sought as compensation as “damages.”

What is a compensatory case?

In California, compensatory damages are defined as money that a wrongdoer pays in order to compensate a victim for losses in a personal injury case. They contrast with punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant and discourage others from similar behavior.

Are emotional distress damages compensatory?

Emotional distress damages are a subset of what are commonly called “compensatory damages.”

How do you get punitive damages?

A defendant who acted in negligence isn't enough to justify the awarding of punitive damages. For punitive damages to be awarded, the defendant needs to have acted in a way that is either malicious, purposeful, or a combination of the two.

Are punitive damages special damages?

Punitive damages (also known as “exemplary damages” in California) constitute a special, separate category of non-economic damages. Whereas other non-economic damages aim to compensate personal injury plaintiffs for the harms they suffered, punitive damages have a different purpose.

What is punitive damages in real estate?

Definition of "Punitive damages" ... Also called exemplary damages, punitive damages are damages achieved by a judicial award for a plaintiff in a lawsuit in addition to the actual damages. Punitive damages are used to penalize the defendant for bad faith, malice, fraud, violence, or evil intent.

What is difference between damages and compensation?

Damages are monetary awards given to victims of accidents to compensate for the losses suffered by them whether physical, emotional, or financial. Compensation is a concept that attempts to redress any wrongdoing to an individual or any losses suffered by him because of the guilt of any other person in monetary terms.