Royal v. Kautzky.U.S. Appeals Court PUNITIVE DAMAGES Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. NOMINAL DAMAGES Minimal money damages awarded to an individual in an action where the person has not suffered any substantial injury or loss for which he or she must be compensated. PLRA PLRA Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Paraguay) PLRA Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Prison Litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. Reform Act Royal v. Kautzky, 375 F.3d 720 (8th Cir. 2004). A prisoner filed a civil rights action against a prison employee, alleging retaliation against his First Amendment rights and access to the courts. Finding that the prisoner did not sustain a physical injury, the district court denied mental or emotional damages, awarding only nominal damages, and further denied an award of punitive damages. The prisoner appealed. The appeals court affirmed. The appeals court held that Prison Litigation Reform Act's (PLRA) limitation on damages to those who sustain a physical injury applied to First Amendment violations. The court found that the district court did not abuse its discretion by not awarding punitive damages. (Iowa Medical Classification Center) |
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