Suing for Punitive Damages in West Springfield

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Litigation Lawyers in West Springfield

In West Springfield, Massachusetts, civil litigation serves the primary purpose of compensating people who have been victims of wrongdoing, and not meting out punishment, vengeance, or moral judgment.

This general principle is subject to an important exception, however. There are cases where a judge in West Springfield, Massachusetts will order a defendant to pay the plaintiff a sum of money which is not calculated based on actual harm the plaintiff has suffered. These are called "punitive damages" and serve the purpose of punishing and deterring wrongdoing.


Conduct that can give rise to punitive damages in West Springfield, Massachusetts

Typically personal injury cases in West Springfield, Massachusetts do not involve punitive damages, because the defendant did not intend to cause harm, or act with some other form of malice. Alternatively, most of these cases involve situations where the defendant acted carelessly, but did not actually intend to cause harm. This is enough to award compensatory damages, but it is far from sufficient to award punitive damages in West Springfield, Massachusetts.


You should be aware of the fact that there are some pretty severe limits on punitive damages in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that there are constitutional limits on punitive damage awards. Punitive damages can't be too disproportionate to the actual damages that the plaintiff has suffered. Appeals courts have found that excessive punitive damage awards violate the defendant's right to due process, by depriving them of considerable amounts of property.

Usually, in West Springfield, Massachusetts, punitive damage awards that exceed the actual damages (those awarded to directly compensate the plaintiff) by a factor of 10. This is not an absolute rule, however, and is applied on a case-by-case basis. Courts in Massachusetts have found much smaller awards to be invalid, and upheld much larger awards.

How Can a West Springfield, Massachusetts Attorney Help?

In West Springfield, Massachusetts, there are a virtually unlimited number of situtations in which punitive damages can be awarded.

If you live in West Springfield, Massachusetts and are engaged in a case that you believe carries the possibility of a punitive damage award, you may be entitled to a large amount of money from the person or company that hurt you. To know for sure, you should speak with a civil litigation attorney in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Life in West Springfield

West Springfield is part of Hampden County in Massachusetts. It has a population of about 28,000 people and is a popular tourist destination. The city is locally known as "The West Side", which is a reference to its location on the western side of the Connecticut River.

West Springfield is also part of the Massachusetts area known as the Springfield-Hartford "Knowledge Corridor". The Knowledge Corridor is part of a state program designed to promote cultural and economic exchange between several Massachusetts cities. The name Knowledge Corridor derives from the fact that there are over 30 colleges and universities in the sector. The area is also the focus of extensive urban renewal projects.

The city of West Springfield attracts many visitors due to its retail and commercial activities. For example, the Riverdale Road corridor is one of the major retail centers in the area. Tourists also come to the city every September for the Eastern States Exposition or "The Big E", which is the largest fair in the entire northeast region. The fair is home to the Big E Cream Puff and the Craz-E Burger. The Big E lasts for 17 days and features a number of acts, parades, and exhibits.

Lawyers in West Springfield, Massachusetts usually represent their clients at the Springfield District Court Division courthouse. Many West Springfield are members of multiple bar associations including the local Hampden County Bar Association.

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