Remittitur is a legal term that refers to the reduction of a monetary award granted by a jury or judge in a civil case. It occurs when a judge determines that the amount awarded by the jury is excessive or unreasonable based on the evidence presented during the trial. In such cases, the judge may offer the plaintiff the option to accept a lower amount determined by the court, known as the remittitur, in lieu of undergoing a new trial or appealing the verdict. Remittitur aims to ensure fairness in monetary awards and prevent excessive damages that may result from jury bias or error. If the plaintiff accepts the remittitur, the case is resolved based on the reduced amount; if not, the plaintiff may choose to pursue further legal action.
- a judge's order reducing a judgment awarded by a jury when the award exceeds the amount asked for by the plaintiff (person who brought the suit).
- an appeal's transmittal of a case back to the trial court so that the case can be retried, or an order entered consistent with the appeals court's decision (such as dismissing the plaintiff's case or awarding costs to the winning party on appeal).
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.
To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.
- Page URL:https://dlssolicitors.com/define/remittitur/
- Modern Language Association (MLA):Remittitur. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. April 28, 2024 https://dlssolicitors.com/define/remittitur/.
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):Remittitur. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. https://dlssolicitors.com/define/remittitur/ (accessed: April 28, 2024).
- American Psychological Association (APA):Remittitur. dlssolicitors.com. Retrieved April 28, 2024, from dlssolicitors.com website: https://dlssolicitors.com/define/remittitur/