In a civil case, what is meant by the term "damages"?

In a civil case, "damages" refers to monetary compensation awarded to a plaintiff for losses they have suffered due to the defendant's actions or negligence. This compensation is intended to make the injured party "whole" again, financially speaking, and it can cover various types of losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.

Damages can be classified into different categories, such as compensatory damages, which are aimed at covering actual losses, and punitive damages, which are awarded to punish the defendant for particularly harmful behavior and deter similar actions in the future.

Understanding the concept of damages is crucial in civil law, as it reflects the outcome of a lawsuit where the plaintiff seeks to recover from financial harm caused by the defendant's conduct.