Litigation Lawyers in Cumberland


However, this general principle has a major exception. In rare cases, a Cumberland, Rhode Island judge or jury can award damages to the plaintiff that are not calculated by the actual losses suffered. Instead, they serve the purpose of punishing the defendant, and deterring others from wrongdoing. These are called "punitive damages."


Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in Cumberland, Rhode Island

A majority of personal injury litigation actions in Cumberland, Rhode Island do not involve the possibility of punitive damages, because they typically involve injuries where the defendant is at fault for the harm caused, but did not intend to do any harm. In Cumberland, Rhode Island, accidental harm may be enough to award the plaintiff compensatory damages, but it is not enough for punitive damages.



In general, punitive damages in Cumberland, Rhode Island cannot be more than 10 times larger than the actual damages suffered by the plaintiff. However, this is not an absolute rule, and appeals courts in Rhode Island have upheld much larger awards, and found much smaller awards to be invalid. It's determined on a case-by-case basis.

How Can a Cumberland, Rhode Island Attorney Help?


If you have been hurt in Cumberland, Rhode Island and you think punitive damages might be justified, a large amount of money might be at stake. For that reason, you should not hesitate to consult a civil litigation attorney in Cumberland, Rhode Island.