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damnum

damnum

1 9.9
Harm or loss someone suffers that can be claimed in court
  • noun
  • /ˈdæmnəm/
  • Archaic
: daño
  • Focusing on pain and suffering, of the 33 closing arguments Diamond and colleagues examined, 21 plaintiffs made ad damnums asking for a specific dollar amount.
  • ad damnum
  • high ad damnum

Examples

  • For the defendant, what strategy should his or her attorney use to counteract the plaintiff's attempt to anchor with a high ad damnum (damages demand)?

    Academic text (2016)
  • Across conditions, the conclusion was "that the higher the ad damnum, the higher the verdict." 11 #

    Academic text (2016)
  • Numerous studies have suggested that a successful plaintiff can obtain a higher damage award simply by offering a higher ad damnum, that is, requesting more money from the jury.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Jurors were exposed to the strengths of cases and the amounts demanded (the ad damnum).

    Academic text (2016)
  • Notably, the Diamond study was observational and primarily focused on what jurors said about the ad damnums.

    Academic text (2016)
  • In the lawsuit, the jury awarded the plaintiff substantial damnum for the economic losses suffered due to the accident.

  • The court recognized the damnum caused by the negligence of the contractor, leading to a large settlement for the affected homeowners.

  • During the trial, the attorney presented evidence of the financial damnum incurred by the business as a result of the breach of contract.

Synonyms

damage
vsdamnum
∞ 1.0

Harm that makes something less useful, valuable, or healthy

focuses on loss recognized in legal proceedings rather than general harm

Antonyms

gain
  • Specialized
531 2.3

An advantage that gives you more money or success

How Serious

harm
706 1.0
damnum
  • Archaic
1 9.9
loss
102 1.1

Surface Forms

damnum singular
damna plural

Etymology

Damnum comes from Latin and means 'loss' or 'damage', and it is the same root that gave us the English word damage. That's why damnum is used for the kind of loss or harm you must prove in law.