Nominal Damages Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Nominal Damages.

Nominal Damages (noun)

Refers to a minimal amount of money awarded to a plaintiff in a legal case. This is typically given when the plaintiff has experienced a small or undetermined loss due to the defendant's wrongful action. The court provides this token amount to show respect to the plaintiffs' rights, despite the harm done being minor in nature.