What does punitive damages mean?
101079
Punitive = Punishment.\n\nIt means they're making you pay a certain amount so that you will think twice before doing whatever it is that you did.
960137
It means that if and when you recover, the attorney receives his fee from (usually a percentage, such as 1/3) of that, plus any costs the attorney has paid out on your behalf (such as copying, mailing, or filing fees).  Say you recover $10,000 from an auto accident.  The attorney will then receive $3,333, plus costs and you get $6,667, minus costs.\n\nNormally, if you dont recover, then the attorney will get nothing as well, other than costs from you (sometimes they ask for costs, sometimes they dont).\n\nThis would be instead of just charging a flat fee for representation.  For example, charging you $200/hour.
56315
If you are found liable for the injuries of the other person, then you are liable for that amount.  If they get a judgment against you for $1.5M, then they can go after your house, your business, your personal property, 401(k), etc.  If you don't have the money or don't own property, you are considered "judgment proof."  Some people might consider going into bankruptcy after taking such a hit.
129490
I will venture a guess that this is in the contracts/tort law context?  \n\nEssentially, the doctrine requires the innocent/wronged party to be made whole again - as if he/she had not enter into this contract or being harmed by the tort.  \n\nThis doctrine works when the other party also suffered some losses (or did not benefit), but is more culpable than the other party.
335624
In some jurisdictions, it stands for "A Violation of Probation".  I don't know about Massachusetts.
865201
it means how much you owe on your principle assuming there is no prepayment penalty....when it's paid, you need a satisfaction of mortgage recorded in the public record
1135180
Malice means a wish to hurt other people. It is not easy to claim the prosecution is acting maliciously. In normal case, prosecution failure in following certain procedure could be used as a good defence. for example the4 prosecution failed to bring the case to court as soon or refuse to let teh accuse enjoy his right to consult his counsel as soon...
927480
it means you didn't pay something and someone wants their money! looks like you may be going to court!
1035886
battery\nn. the actual intentional striking of someone, with intent to harm, or in a "rude and insolent manner" even if the injury is slight. Negligent or careless unintentional contact is not battery no matter how great the harm. Battery is a crime and also the basis for a lawsuit as a civil wrong if there is damage. It is often coupled with "assault" (which does not require actual touching) in "assault and battery."\nassault and battery\nn. the combination of the two crimes of threat (assault) and actual beating (battery). They are both also intentional civil wrongs for which the party attacked may file a suit for damages.
1173488
A frivolous suit would be one in which I had no basis for my claim or one where my claim were so far removed from reality or the issue of any real liability.  For example, suing a drug manufacturer for "mental anquish" over a drug that I had never taken, or had taken but suffered no ill effects from.  Or suing CNN for all for all of the bad news -- clearly that's frivolous.\n\nConversely, if I am injuried by a defective product then the manufacturer is liable for my loss.  Calling that frivolous is a slap in the face of anyone who has been injured by a defective product.  Anyone who would restrict those suits obviously only cares about the bottom line, not the people victimized by a careless or uncaring company, doctor, hospital, etc.  \n\nProduct liability actually reigns in costs borne by the general public as it gets defective products out of the marketplace, incompetent doctors out of practice, and cleans up dirty hospitals and places the responsibility for making the victim whole again upon the guilty party instead of the public welfare system.  Punitive damages serve as notice both to the defendant and others that their behavior is not acceptable and will be punished\n\nIf a suit for damages is ultimately successful, then the plaintiff HAS proven fault, so says the jury!  You're not going to get a settlement otherwise!  I have served as a juror on product liability suits and one of the questions that we had to answer before even discussing the damage award was, "Did the actions of the defendant proximately cause the injury suffered by the plaintiff?"  If the answer to that question was "No" then we didn't even discuss the issue of an award.  The case was over, our job was done.  If the answer to that question was "Yes" then there's your proof of fault, my friend!
352184
Though I am a lawyer, I cannot understand your question, as it appears to have been written in the e e cummings style of no punctuation.  Sorry.
127066
No. \n\nBy suing a person is merely asserting a claim and requesting that the matter be considered by a (hopefully) impartial Court of Law. The right to seek remedies to injuries and damages in inherent in a democracy. \n\nDenying services to people who sue the government is punishing them for merely asserting their rights.
288187
typically a fine and/or community service.  possible jail-time depending on criminal history and the extent of the damage, but most likely not to exceed one year.  these laws are usually set by state government under property damage laws.  Also, owner of vandalized property may sue for damages in civil court.
1108860
that means there has been a decision made against you.  whatever the judgment may be, it is a decision made by the judge (and sometimes jury) that you are at fault.  usually it results in an awarding of money for the other party - to be paid by you.  a motion for consideration is what you file when you want the judge to consider a point.  they are filed on any number of issues and without more info, i wouldn't be able to tell you what the judge was being asked to review.
967946
It means that the court issued an Abstract of Judgment.\n\n  abstract of judgment\nn. a written summary of a judgment which states how much money the losing party owes to the person who won the lawsuit (judgment creditor), the rate of interest to be paid on the judgment amount, court costs, and any specific orders that the losing party (judgment debtor) must obey, which abstract is acknowledged and stamped so that it can be recorded at the county recorder. The purpose of an abstract of judgment is to create a public record and create a lien or claim if necessary on any real estate owned or later acquired by the loser located in the county in which the abstract of judgment is recorded. If the loser does not pay the judgment voluntarily then the winner can force a sheriff's sale of any property to collect. There are several problems: a) to find the county where the loser owns real estate; b) the probability that there are secured loans, tax liens and/or other judgments that come ahead of the judgment lien; c) the possibility that the loser/debtor may go bankrupt and avoid paying the debt.
716794
Yes they can it is called criminal damage to property, and it depend what the total cost of the damage is to make it a misdemeanor or a felony. I think more than $300.00 or $500.00 constitutes a felony depending on where you live!!!!
972198
PRO:  This risk of punitive damages makes parties more likely to avoid the conduct subject to the extra damage award.  Punitive damages typically are a good idea for activities that society always wants to dissuade:  conduct done in bad faith or conduct that could have easily been avoided (e.g. premeditated murder, drunk driving).\n\nCON:  The increased risk of a costly legal settlement will dissuade parties from engaging in the activities that led them to have to pay punitive damages.  Some off these activities are productive and on the whole beneficial to society, even accounting for the accidents and losses that sometimes happen as a result (e.g. surgery, air transport).  Punitive damages for mere accidents and misunderstandings might make people too risk averse and lead them to either stop providing the services altogether or to increase the prices they charge to cover the potential cost of punitive damages (reflected most likely in the cost of insurance).  Typically, simply awarding remedial damages to an injured party injured by a productive activity will compensate them fully for their losses, while making the defendant aware of the external costs of her conduct.