---
title: "Nominal Damages"
type: Legal Term
source: https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/nominal-damages
---

# Nominal Damages

Nominal damages are a small, symbolic monetary award (often one dollar) granted when the court recognizes that a legal right has been violated but the plaintiff has failed to prove any actual loss or cannot quantify damages. They serve the important function of vindicating the plaintiff's rights and establishing that a breach occurred, which can be critical for preserving claims or establishing precedent. Nominal damages are commonly awarded in breach of contract cases where the breach is technical but harmless, or in tort cases involving trespass or violations of constitutional rights. A judgment for nominal damages also allows the prevailing party to recover costs and, in some contexts, attorneys' fees.

## Related Terms

- compensatory-damages
- punitive-damages
- breach-of-contract

## Related Cases

- jacob-youngs-v-kent

## Example

When a neighbor repeatedly walked across the plaintiff's property without permission but caused no physical damage, the court awarded nominal damages of one dollar to affirm the plaintiff's property rights.

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Source: [Nominal Damages — CaseBriefly](https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/nominal-damages)