often called punitive damages, these are damages requested and/or awarded in a lawsuit
when the defendant's willful acts were malicious, violent, oppressive, fraudulent,
wanton or grossly reckless. Examples of acts warranting exemplary damages publishing
that someone had committed murders when the publisher knew it was not true but hated
the person; an ex-husband trashes his former wife's auto and threatens further property
damage; a stockbroker buys and sells a widow's stocks to generate commissions resulting
in her losing all her capital (money). These damages are awarded both as a punishment
and to set a public example. They reward the plaintiff for the horrible nature of
what she/he went through or suffered. Although often requested, exemplary damages
are seldom awarded. There have been major awards in egregious (remarkable or outstanding)
cases, such as fraud schemes, sexual harassment or other intentional and vicious
actions even when the provable actual damages were not extensive.
law dictionary, legal
dictionary, online law dictionary, legal terms dictionary,
online legal dictionary, legal definition, legal
terms and definition, Best online Dictionary, Law
Dictionary Software, Download Law Dictionary, law
dictionary, legal dictionary, online law dictionary,
legal terms dictionary, online legal dictionary,
legal definition, legal terms and definition, Best
online Dictionary, Law Dictionary Software, Download
Law Dictionary
