These damages are a small sum of cash awarded to a plaintiff in a authorized case the place the plaintiff has confirmed a technical violation of their rights, however has not suffered any precise monetary loss. The aim is to acknowledge that the plaintiff’s rights had been violated, even when no actual hurt resulted. For instance, if an individual technically trespasses on one other’s property however causes no harm, a courtroom would possibly award a symbolic quantity, resembling one greenback.
The importance lies in vindicating the plaintiff’s rights and establishing a authorized precedent. Though the financial quantity is trivial, the judgment will be essential for confirming possession or stopping future violations. Traditionally, such awards served as a declaration by the courtroom that the defendant’s actions had been illegal, offering a foundation for additional authorized motion if the habits continued or escalated.