pecuniary damages

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pecuniary damages" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to monetary compensation awarded to a plaintiff for losses suffered. Example: "The court awarded the plaintiff pecuniary damages for the financial losses incurred due to the defendant's negligence."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

This aspect of damages, however, stands on less certain ground than does an award for pecuniary damages.

Harvard University

Pecuniary damages, on the other hand, compensate the victim for the economic consequences of the injury, such as medical expenses, lost earnings and the cost of custodial care.

Harvard University

Such an analytical approach may have its place when the subject is pecuniary damages, which can be calculated with some precision.

Harvard University

In Miles, the Supreme Court held that since the Jones Act and DOHSA allow only for the recovery of pecuniary damages, non-pecuniary damages, such as loss of society, were not recoverable in wrongful death actions based on general maritime law.

Cornell University

The First, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuit Courts have awarded punitive damages, while the Second, Third, and Ninth Circuit Courts have applied the Miles uniformity principle and awarded only pecuniary damages.

Cornell University

However, the limitation on the right to recover pecuniary damages in a private action identified in Blue Chip is not necessarily coextensive with the limits of the rule itself.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The balance of the damages awarded to her were for pecuniary damages--lost earnings and the cost of custodial and nursing care.

Harvard University

Also unchallenged are the awards in the amount of $770,978 for loss of earnings and $2,025,750 for future custodial care--that is, the pecuniary damage awards that survived defendants' posttrial motions.

Harvard University

According to Townsend, although Weeks Marine assumes punitive and non-pecuniary damages are the same, the courts have always treated them differently.

Cornell University

See Brief for Respondent at 26. Townsend claims that the Miles reasoning is confined to the context of wrongful death and non-pecuniary damages and does not apply to the concept of maintenance and cure and non-pecuniary damages at issue here.

Cornell University

The verdict from the Strasbourg court was a fraction of the £170,000 in non-pecuniary damages he had called for and comes a day after Qatada, once dubbed Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, lost the latest round of his legal battle to stay in the UK.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pecuniary damages", ensure that you're referring specifically to financial losses that can be quantified, such as lost earnings or medical expenses.

Common error

Avoid using "pecuniary damages" when referring to emotional distress or pain and suffering. These are considered non-pecuniary and require different terminology and methods of calculation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pecuniary damages" functions as a noun phrase identifying a specific type of compensation awarded in legal contexts. It refers to financial losses that can be precisely calculated. Ludwig AI confirms the appropriateness of this term, especially in legal and academic settings.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pecuniary damages" refers to quantifiable financial losses and is a grammatically sound phrase primarily used in legal and academic contexts. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its appropriateness and usage. When writing, remember that "pecuniary damages" should only be used when referring to losses that can be calculated, like lost earnings or medical bills, and not for non-economic damages such as emotional distress. Semantically similar alternatives include "monetary compensation" and "financial restitution". These variations can add nuance to your writing while maintaining accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pecuniary compensation

Uses a synonym to indicate financial recompense.

monetary compensation

Replaces "pecuniary damages" with a more general term for financial reimbursement.

compensation for financial losses

Expands the phrase to explicitly state the nature of the losses.

financial restitution

Emphasizes the restoration aspect of compensating for a financial loss.

economic loss compensation

Highlights the economic aspect of the damages being compensated.

damages for economic injury

Emphasizes the economic aspect of the injury and the resulting compensation.

financial remedy

Focuses on the legal solution provided to address financial harm.

indemnification for pecuniary harm

Uses a more formal term, "indemnification", to denote protection against financial loss.

cash settlement

Specifies the form of compensation as a cash payment.

monetary awards

Refers to the amount of money granted as a result of a legal decision.

FAQs

What are examples of losses covered by "pecuniary damages"?

"Pecuniary damages" typically cover quantifiable financial losses such as lost wages, medical bills, and property damage. These are distinct from non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

How do "pecuniary damages" differ from punitive damages?

"Pecuniary damages" compensate for actual financial losses, while punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and are not directly tied to the victim's losses. Punitive damages go above and beyond actual compensatory damages.

What's the difference between "pecuniary damages" and "non-pecuniary damages"?

"Pecuniary damages" refer to quantifiable financial losses, like lost income or medical expenses. "Non-pecuniary damages", on the other hand, cover non-monetary losses such as pain, suffering, and emotional distress, which are more subjective and difficult to quantify.

In what contexts is it appropriate to claim "pecuniary damages"?

It is appropriate to claim "pecuniary damages" in legal cases where there is demonstrable financial loss resulting from another party's actions, such as personal injury cases, breach of contract, or property damage claims.