When can a plaintiff recover nominal damages in Georgia?

A plaintiff in Georgia can recover nominal damages even when no actual damages can be shown. Nominal damages serve to recognize that a legal right has been violated, even in the absence of financial loss or measurable harm. This concept is rooted in the idea that the law may acknowledge the infringement of rights and provide a legal remedy purely for the recognition of that violation, without the need for the plaintiff to demonstrate tangible damages.

This principle is particularly relevant in tort cases where the plaintiff seeks to establish a claim for a wrongful act, such as trespass or defamation, where the act may not have resulted in quantifiable harm but still constitutes a breach of the plaintiff's rights. Therefore, the ability to recover nominal damages supports the enforcement of rights and serves as a deterrent against wrongful conduct, reinforcing the importance of legal protections irrespective of actual financial loss.