nominal damages

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

(law) a trivial sum (usually $1.00) awarded as recognition that a legal injury was sustained (as for technical violations of a contract)Synonyms: nominal damages

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Damage \Dam"age\ (d[a^]m"[asl]j; 48), n. [OF. damage, domage, F. dommage, fr. assumed LL. damnaticum, from L. damnum damage. See Damn.]

1.Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an inflicted loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief. [1913 Webster]

He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage.— Prov. xxvi. 6.[1913 Webster]

Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of a friend to tell them of them, to the great damage both of their fame and fortune.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]

2.pl. (Law) The estimated reparation in money for detriment or injury sustained; a compensation, recompense, or satisfaction to one party, for a wrong or injury actually done to him by another. [1913 Webster]

Note: In common-law actions, the jury are the proper judges of damages. [1913 Webster]

Consequential damage. See under Consequential.

Exemplary damages (Law), damages imposed by way of example to others. Similar in purpose to vindictive damages, below.

Nominal damages (Law), those given for a violation of a right where no actual loss has accrued.

vindictive damages or punitive damages, those given specially for the punishment of the wrongdoer.

Syn: Mischief; injury; harm; hurt; detriment; evil; ill. See Mischief. [1913 Webster]