# What Are Nominal Damages in Texas? | Attorney Brian White **Table of Contents***[*Expand*]* 1. What Is the Legal Definition of Nominal Damages?  2. Why Are Nominal Damages Awarded? 3. How Much Can You Receive in Nominal Damages? 4. What Is the Purpose of Nominal Damages?  5. Celebrity Examples of Nominal Damages  6. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Texas for Legal Assistance ![What Are Nominal Damages in Texas? ](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/What-Are-Nominal-Damages-In-Texas-1-300x200.jpg) Many injury victims seek to receive financial compensation. Still, others want to pursue justice for different reasons.  Victims often want to tell their stories in court and be heard. They also want the law to recognize that someone harmed them.  While personal injury accidents often cause financial losses, other hardships are associated with suffering an injury or [property damage](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/property-damage/) because of someone’s [negligence](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-is-negligence/).  Nominal damages provide justice to individuals who cannot obtain compensatory damages, payments that cover the costs associated with an incident. By seeking nominal damages, you can share your story and receive recognition. You could also shed light on the truth of what happened, preserve your reputation, and show that the law is on your side.  ## What Is the Legal Definition of Nominal Damages?  The Law Dictionary defines [nominal damages](https://thelawdictionary.org/nominal-and-substantial-damages/#:~:text=Nominal%20damages%20are%20a%20trifling,real%20injury%2C%20the%20plaintiff's%20evidence) as a trivial sum the plaintiff receives when the following are true.  - There is no substantial loss or injury. As a result, there is nothing for which to compensate. Alternatively, the victim lacks evidence to demonstrate a real injury or loss. - The law identifies a technical invasion of the victim’s rights or a breach of the wrongdoer’s duty.  Nominal damages contrast, in a sense, with compensatory damages. [Compensatory damages](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/compensatory_damages), including [economic](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-economic-damages/) and [non-economic](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-non-economic-damages-in-texas/) damages, are large. They provide real compensation for the financial toll of an injury.  For a legal consultation call [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) ## Why Are Nominal Damages Awarded? Nominal damages are awarded when the law protects the victim’s rights yet does not entitle the victim to substantial damages, or the victim does not seek monetary gain from the action.  In these cases, victims might not have suffered sufficient financial losses from the incident to warrant compensatory damages. In other cases, they do not have enough evidence to demonstrate the harm.  Some individuals might not want money, only vindication.  ## How Much Can You Receive in Nominal Damages? Nominal damages are small. This type of award contrasts with compensatory damages ranging from thousands to millions of dollars.  The [typical amount](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/nominal_damages#:~:text=One%20dollar%20is%20the%20amount,to%20nominal%20damages%20of%20%24100.) of nominal damages is one dollar. But courts may award higher amounts, such as 100 dollars.  In addition to nominal damages, the victim could receive attorney’s fees. This would require the party at fault to pay the victim’s legal costs so that the victim does not have to shoulder them.  [Click to contact](/contact-us/) us today ## What Is the Purpose of Nominal Damages?  Nominal damages are symbolic. They represent justice. Victims receive nominal damages to represent their victory in a case where they do not otherwise receive compensatory or other substantial damages.  Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Now ## Celebrity Examples of Nominal Damages  Wealthy celebrities sometimes request nominal damages as they seek justice but do not want money.  When retried optician Terry Sanderson sued Gwenyth Paltrow [following a ski accident](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/30/1167262503/gwyneth-paltrow-wins-her-ski-crash-case-and-1-in-damages), he alleged that the actress caused the accident.  Yet the jury found that the plaintiff was, in fact, at fault. The jury assigned 100% of the fault to the plaintiff.   As vindication, Gwenyth Paltrow sought one dollar in nominal damages, which she received.  Taylor Swift received [one dollar in nominal damages](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/arts/music/taylor-swift-trial-jury-verdict.html) when she sued radio host David Mueller for groping her. The musical artist claimed she was not interested in obtaining money. Rather, she wanted justice. She wanted to show that women could report an assault without fear.  ## Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Texas for Legal Assistance If you’ve sustained a personal injury in the State of Texas or have further questions about the damages you can recover, it’s likely worth your time to seek legal help from an experienced attorney. Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations, meaning you can reach out for some preliminary legal advice at no cost to you. For more information,[contact](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/contact-us/) the[Houston](https://www.houstontx.gov/) personal injury law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000). **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Houston**[3120 Southwest Freeway, Suite 350, Houston, TX 77098](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Houston/@29.7309684,-95.4262545,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640bf255e7aaf73:0x52064b120afa59fe!8m2!3d29.7309684!4d-95.4262545!16s%2Fg%2F1tfrxw9q?entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – East Fwy**[11811 East Fwy, Suite 630-06, Houston, TX 77029](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+East+Fwy/@29.773407,-95.2301421,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640bd52b80b3fe3:0xb5804dd15c47b17b!8m2!3d29.773407!4d-95.2301421!16s%2Fg%2F11r10lsb0x?source=g.page.share&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – South Loop**[2600 S Loop W, Suite 293, Houston, TX 77054](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+South+Loop/@29.6785093,-95.4184191,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640c1c0e435eacd:0x81fd3c6eb30bc542!8m2!3d29.6785093!4d-95.4184191!16s%2Fg%2F11ry4wjwqr?cid=9366709246148461890&_ga=2.209939733.1628598219.1648478482-1081226185.1622227003&shorturl=1&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers – Katy Freeway**[11511 Katy Fwy Suite 515, Houston, TX 77079](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Katy+Freeway/@29.7836667,-95.5861677,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8640dbd008653a11:0x9786540c9ab0bfd9!8m2!3d29.7836667!4d-95.5861677!16s%2Fg%2F11y3dw2v44?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&entry=tts/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers** **– Clear Lake** [1300 Bay Area Blvd Suite B268, Houston, TX 77058](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+Clear+Lake/@29.5598212,-95.1152728,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x86409d1b345242c9:0x5895a119f6ed1d9!8m2!3d29.5598212!4d-95.1152728!16s%2Fg%2F11lf7xm8n8?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&coh=219816&entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgxNC4xKgBIAVAD/) **Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers** **– The Woodlands** [1776 Woodstead Ct ste 203, The Woodlands, TX 77380](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Attorney+Brian+White+Personal+Injury+Lawyers+-+The+Woodlands/@30.1548897,-95.4639792,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x864737efe5a3cb73:0xff70634b80d03844!8m2!3d30.1548897!4d-95.4639792!16s%2Fg%2F11y98y92_f?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111&entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExOS4yIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D/) Call or Text [(713) 500-5000](tel:+17135005000) or Complete a [Case Evaluation Form](/contact-us/) Personal Injury Blog Posts: [![Coal, Logging, and Refrigeration Truck Accident Lawyer in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/coal-logging-and-refrigeration-truck-accident-lawyer-in-houston/) [Coal, Logging, and Refrigeration Truck Accident Lawyer in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/coal-logging-and-refrigeration-truck-accident-lawyer-in-houston/) Were you injured in an accident with a coal, logging, or refrigeration truck in Houston? Since Texas is an [![Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/most-dangerous-roads-and-intersections-in-houston/) [Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Houston](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/most-dangerous-roads-and-intersections-in-houston/) Houston, Texas, is home to some of the most dangerous roads in the nation. Statistically speaking, drivers in [![Back Injury](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/themes/brian-white/assets/app/img/default-thumb.webp)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-injury/) [Back Injury](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/back-injury/) The spine is made up of many vertebrae (bones) that form a column from our neck to the base of our spine. [![Houston Texas Lawyer](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/iStock-1033598734-300x200.jpg)](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-to-write-a-settlement-demand-letter/) [How to Write a Settlement Demand Letter](https://attorneybrianwhite.com/blog/how-to-write-a-settlement-demand-letter/) Settlement demand letters are used in most personal injury cases to begin settlement negotiations. These letters are --- Source: https://attorneybrianwhite.com/faqs/what-are-nominal-damages-in-texas/