Nominal

Georgia Supreme Court Overturns $1 Million Jury Award in Walmart Injury Case, Questions Nominal Damages

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ATLANTA, Ga. — The Georgia Supreme Court has overturned a $1 million jury award to a woman who alleged she suffered an injury while shopping at a Walmart in Conyers. The court concluded that the significant sum awarded did not align with established standards for nominal damages. In a ruling issued on Tuesday, the court directed lower courts to determine whether the jury’s decision in Bettie Leverette’s case should be annulled. Leverette had claimed that her injuries resulted from the negligence of Walmart employees, leading to diagnoses that included mild traumatic brain injury and post-concussion … Read more

Festival Feud Finale: Fayetteville Dogwood Festival Ex-Directors Settle Year-Long Defamation Dispute with Nominal $100 Verdict

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Fayetteville, NC — In a notable legal conclusion emerging from Cumberland County Superior Court on Tuesday, a jury awarded a nominal $100 in damages at the end of a defamation lawsuit involving two former directors of the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival. This legal battle attracted attention due to its focus on accusations made through social media. The dispute centered on Malia Allen, who managed the festival from 2018 to 2020, and her predecessor Carrie King, who held the position from 2006 to 2018. The controversy began after Allen released several videos on TikTok and other platforms … Read more

Jury’s $150,000 ‘Nominal’ Damages Verdict Overturned in Civil Rights Lawsuit

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Boston, MA — A notable civil rights case recently culminated in a U.S. District Court decision that a jury’s sizable award of $150,000 in “nominal” damages was inappropriate, leading the judge to reduce the amount to just one dollar. This verdict has sparked a detailed examination of what constitutes nominal damages within the legal framework. The controversy began with Diane Lawless’s lawsuit against the town of Freetown. Lawless, previously appointed as the town’s treasurer in June 2013, alleged wrongful termination and violations of her procedural due process rights under §1983 after her dismissal in June … Read more

Climate Scientist Michael Mann Wins Defamation Suit Against Writers, Awarded Nominal Compensatory Damages in DC Jury Verdict

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of climate scientist Michael Mann in his defamation lawsuit against writers Mark Steyn and Rand Simberg. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2012, challenged the validity of Mann’s research and compared Penn State’s investigation into his alleged misconduct to the university’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The jury awarded Mann nominal compensatory damages of $1 against each defendant, but also added punitive damage awards of $1 million against Steyn and $1,000 against Simberg. It is likely that these damages, and possibly the … Read more