US-CA3 · jury_instructions
3d Cir. Model Jury Instr. (Civil) 6.4.5
Section 1981 Damages — Nominal Damages
Model 2
If you return a verdict for [plaintiff], but [plaintiff] has failed to prove actual injury and 3
therefore is not entitled to compensatory damages, then you must award nominal damages of $ 4
1.00. 5
A person whose federal rights were violated is entitled to a recognition of that violation, 6
even if [he/she] suffered no actual injury. Nominal damages (of $1.00) are designed to 7
acknowledge the deprivation of a federal right, even where no actual injury occurred. 8
However, if you find actual injury, you must award compensatory damages (as I instructed 9
you), rather than nominal damages. 10
Provenance
- Source
- ca3.uscourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-19
- Edition
- 2026-08-19
- Content hash
8ab37bd36ad0728a6e8cfa68ace61dad0348e361bd5c9bd95ee10709bc50a3f5
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