Nominal damages are a small monetary award granted by a court to a plaintiff when a legal wrong has been committed, but no actual financial loss or injury has been suffered. They are typically symbolic in nature and are awarded to recognise the plaintiff’s legal rights or to establish liability, rather than to compensate for any measurable harm. Nominal damages are often awarded in cases where a plaintiff’s rights have been infringed, but there is insufficient evidence to support a claim for substantial compensatory damages.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
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