Remedies Flashcards
For a remedies question what’s the first question?
Tort, contract, or unjust enrichment?
Categories of tort remedies.
-Damages
-Restitution
-Injunction
Types of tort damages.
-compensatory
-nominal
-punitive
-interest and attorneys’ fees
standard tort remedy
compensatory damages
Elements necessary to establish tort compensatory damages.
- but for cause
- proximate cause
- reasonable certainty
- could not reasonably have been avoided
Elements necessary to receive tort nominal damages.
No actual injury or loss
NOTE: given standing requirement, this is almost impossible in federal court.
What is necessary to receive tort punitive damages.
- compensatory or nominal damages are appropriate
- defendant engaged in willful, wanton, or malicious conduct
When can tort interest and attorney’s fees be awarded?
At common law never. Need a statute.
Types of tort restitution.
-replevin
-ejectment
-constructive trust
-purchase money resulting trust
-equitable lien
When is tort restitution available?
When damages are not or are inadequate
What is replevin?
Giving someone back their chattel property.
What is required for a tort constructive trust restitution?
- P can’t get damages or they’re inadequate
- D holds title
- Traceable ENTIRELY to the wrong (not just an improvement traceable to the wrong)
- D’s retention of the property would constitute unjust enrichment
What is required for tort replevin restitution?
- Damages unavailable or inadequate
- D has the chattel property
What is required for tort ejectment restitution?
- Damages unavailable or inadequate
- D is still on P’s real property
What is a constructive trust remedy?
D has wronged P. The court takes the fruit of that wrong and says “ok, I’m putting it in trust for P and D you’re the trustee now, with these conditions.”
What is required for a tort equitable lien?
- P can’t get damages or they’re inadequate
- D holds title
- Traceable partially to the wrong (improvements count)
- D’s retention of the property (or improvement) would constitute unjust enrichment
When is a tort injunction appropriate?
- Damages AND restitution are either impossible or inadequate.
- Feasible
- Harm to plaintiff without > EITHER Harm to defendant with OR Harm to public with
What is the rule of thumb limit on punitive damages?
No more than ten times compensatory.
Defenses to tort injunction suits.
-Laches
-Unclean hands
-Interference with freedom of speech
-Injunction against criminal prosecution
-Injunction against crime
-Injunction involving political or civil rights
Laches defense elements
- Tort suit for injunctive or restitution relief OR contract suit for specific performance
- Unreasonable delay in bringing suit
- Prejudicial to D
Defenses to tort restitution relief.
-Laches
-Unclean hands
Laches excuses
-concealment, fraud, or inequitable conduct by defendant
-reasonable lack of awareness to facts giving rise to relief
Unclean hands elements
- P engaged in wrongful conduct
- With respect to the transaction or subject matter of the suit they bring
- That wrongful conduct injured D
Interference with freedom of speech elements
- Defamation suit
- P has asked for an injunction
Injunction against criminal prosecution elements.
- P asks court to enjoin a criminal prosecution
- No irreparable injury to P’s rights