damages
money that someone must pay because they harmed another person or broke the law or a contract.
money claimed or awarded, especially by a court or legal settlement, to compensate someone for loss, injury, or harm.
the amount of money that damage to something is estimated to cost.
the estimated or calculated monetary losses caused by an accident, disaster, or other harmful event, especially for insurance, business, or official reporting.
- Base: damages
- Plural: damages
compensatory damages
1Damages covering actual loss
money paid to cover what a person actually lost or suffered.
- She received compensatory damages for medical bills and lost wages.
- The court separated compensatory damages from punitive damages in its ruling.
- Compensatory damages pay for the loss.
- He asked for compensatory damages.
damages for pain and suffering
1Compensation for distress
money for the pain and emotional problems someone suffers after being injured.
- The settlement included damages for pain and suffering as well as payment for medical expenses.
- Jurors considered how the accident affected his daily life when calculating damages for pain and suffering.
- The award included damages for pain and suffering.
- She asked for damages for pain and suffering.
liquidated damages
1Contract-set damages amount
money a contract says must be paid if someone breaks the contract.
- The contract required liquidated damages of $1,000 for each day the project was late.
- The court enforced the liquidated damages clause because the amount was reasonable.
- The contract set liquidated damages.
- They had to pay liquidated damages for the delay.
liquidated damages
1pre-agreed contract compensation
money that a contract says someone must pay if they break the agreement
- The contract includes a liquidated damages clause for late delivery.
- The court upheld the liquidated damages because the amount was a reasonable estimate of loss.
- The supplier agreed to pay liquidated damages for each week of delay.
- The buyer had to pay liquidated damages for canceling late.
nominal damages
1Small symbolic damages
a small amount of money given mainly to show that someone’s rights were violated.
- The judge awarded nominal damages of one dollar because the plaintiff’s rights had been violated but no loss was proved.
- He won the case but received only nominal damages.
- She won nominal damages of $1.
- Nominal damages can be symbolic.
punitive damages
1Money awarded to punish
Extra money in a lawsuit meant to punish the wrongdoer.
- The jury awarded punitive damages after finding the company had acted deliberately.
- The judge reduced the punitive damages on appeal.
- Punitive damages are rare in some legal systems.
- The court awarded punitive damages.
- Punitive damages are meant to punish.
punitive damages
1Damages meant to punish
extra money a wrongdoer must pay as punishment, not just to cover the victim’s loss.
- The jury awarded $5 million in punitive damages after finding that the company had acted recklessly.
- The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages, arguing that the fraud was deliberate.
- Punitive damages are meant to punish.
- The court awarded punitive damages.
statutory damages
1Damages set by law
money the law says can be awarded for a particular violation.
- The photographer sought statutory damages for unauthorized use of her image.
- Under the law, consumers may receive statutory damages even when the exact loss is hard to prove.
- Statutory damages are set by law.
- The law allows statutory damages.
sue for damages
1start a case to get compensation
to take someone to a civil court because you want money from them for harm or loss they caused
- The family plans to sue for damages after the accident.
- If the product is unsafe, customers may sue for damages.
- Several investors are suing for damages over the failed project.
sue for damages
1Seek compensation in court
to take someone to court because you want money for harm or loss they caused.
- Residents sued the factory for damages after chemicals contaminated their wells.
- He plans to sue for damages over the cancelled contract.
- They sued the company for damages.
- She may sue for damages.
treble damages
1Triple damages amount
damages that are three times the normal amount.
- The statute allows successful plaintiffs to recover treble damages.
- The company faced treble damages for violating antitrust law.
- Treble damages are three times the loss.
- The court can award treble damages.