what damages awardec for suppressing and misrepresenting info by a lawyer

by Mrs. Annabel Koss 5 min read

What are compensatory damages for the tort of fraudulent misrepresentation?

“Today, the most common measure of compensatory damages for the tort of fraudulent misrepresentation is benefit-of-the-bargain damages—the same as expectation interest compensatory damages for breach of contract.

How to sue a lawyer for misrepresentation and incompetence?

How to Sue a Lawyer for Misrepresentation & Incompetence 1 Make Sure You Have a Case. In order to win a legal malpractice suit, you have to show that the attorney's behavior fell short of that standard. 2 Make Sure You can Still Sue. ... 3 Making Your Complaint. ... 4 Serving the Attorney. ... 5 Negotiate, or Try the Case. ...

When to award punitive damages in a civil case?

Punitive damages are awarded in situations where a plaintiff seeks to punish particularly appalling behavior done by a defendant. Punitive damages must be awarded in conjunction with other damages. What are punitive damages?

What are the essential elements of a claim of negligent misrepresentation?

The essential elements of a claim of negligent misrepresentation are: Someone made a false representation as to a past or existing fact. The person making the belief must have no reasonable ground for believing it to be true. The representation must have been made with the intent to induce the other party to rely upon it.

What are the elements of a cause of action for innocent misrepresentation?

(1) The defendant made a false representation of a past or existing material fact susceptible of knowledge. (2) The defendant did so knowing the representation was false, or without knowing whether it was true or false. (3) The defendant intended to induce the plaintiff to act in reliance on that representation.

Can damages be awarded for misrepresentation?

Overview. Under contract law, a plaintiff can recover compensatory damages against a defendant when a court finds that the defendant has committed fraudulent misrepresentation. Courts will typically find that a defendant has committed fraudulent misrepresentation when six factors have been met: a representation was ...

What is the punishment for misrepresentation?

Any claimant or representative of a claimant who knowingly and willfully makes a false statement or representation for the purpose of obtaining a benefit or payment under this chapter shall be guilty of a felony, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000, by imprisonment not to exceed ...

What are the elements of negligent misrepresentation?

“The elements of negligent misrepresentation are (1) the defendant made a false representation as to a past or existing material fact; (2) the defendant made the representation without reasonable ground for believing it to be true; (3) in making the representation, the defendant intended to deceive the plaintiff; (4) ...

How are damages calculated for misrepresentation?

The Court of Appeal held that, as a general principle, the proper approach for calculating damages for fraudulent misrepresentation should be to (1) ascertain the actual value of the assets bought at the relevant date and (2) deduct that figure from the price paid.

What are the damages for negligent misrepresentation?

If a misrepresentation is fraudulent or negligent, the claimant may claim both rescission and damages under s2(1) of the Misrepresentation Act 1967 (the Act). If a misrepresentation is negligent or innocent, the court has the discretion to award rescission or damages in lieu of rescission under s2(2) of the Act.

What are the 3 types of misrepresentation?

There are three types of misrepresentations—innocent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and fraudulent misrepresentation—all of which have varying remedies.

What is the maximum penalty for making a false representation?

Being convicted of fraud by false representation carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine. However, the maximum sentence is only handed out in the most serious of cases. It is possible for minor charges can be dealt with on a summary basis, at the Magistrates Court.

How do you prove misrepresentation?

To prove fraudulent misrepresentation has occurred, six conditions must be met:A representation was made. ... The claim was false. ... The claim was known to be false. ... The plaintiff relied on the information. ... Made with the intention of influencing the plaintiff. ... The plaintiff suffered a material loss.

What is an example of negligent misrepresentation?

Negligent misrepresentation occurs when someone makes a statement without regard to the true facts. For instance, if you tell a person that a stereo system is brand new when it is four-years-old and has been used heavily, then this can be considered negligent misrepresentation.

What must be proven in an action for negligent misrepresentation?

In order to prove a prima facie case of negligent misrepresentation, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant made a negligent misrepresentation to the plaintiff, that there was actual and justifiable reliance on the misrepresentation, that the misrepresentation was the actual and proximate cause of the plaintiff ...

How do you prove negligent misrepresentation?

A negligent misrepresentation occurs where Party A makes a misrepresentation to Party B either: In a careless manner; or. Without reasonable grounds to believe that the statement is true....You must show that the misrepresentation in question was made by Party A either:Knowingly;Without belief in its truth; or.More items...

What kind of damages can be awarded in a breach of contract lawsuit?

What kinds of damages can be awarded in a breach of contract lawsuit? As a general rule, the victim of a breach of contract is entitled to recover compensatory damages . This means the amount of money that would put the victim in the financial position he or she would have occupied had the contract not been breached.

How are compensatory damages measured?

Under this rule, damages are measured by the benefits the victim expected to receive upon successful completion of the contract. These damages often take the form of lost profits caused by the breach.

What is the purpose of reliance damages?

In contrast to expectation damages, the purpose of reliance damages is to return the victim to the financial position he or she occupied before making the contact. Reliance damages might include out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the victim in performing his or her side of the contract.

What is the goal of a breach of contract?

The goal is to compensate the victim for the harm caused by the breach. The victim of a breach of contract almost always has a duty to mitigate damages. This means the victim must take reasonable steps to prevent or minimize damages, once the victim knows the contract has been breached. The breaching party will not normally be required ...

What is the second measure of loss of profits?

In many cases, expectation damages are impossible to calculate. The law therefore recognizes a second measurement of damages, called reliance damages.

What are the damages in a personal injury lawsuit?

Most personal injury lawsuits require damages to be paid. In many cases, defendants are required to award plaintiffs with compensatory damages, which compensate the plaintiff for injuries the defendant may have caused. However, plaintiffs may be able to pursue both punitive and compensatory damages under some circumstances. Punitive damages are a lot less common than compensatory damages and they are only available in extreme circumstances where a plaintiff seeks to punish particularly damaging behavior done by the defendant. Punitive damages have two primary purposes. These include: 1 Punitive damages are intended to punish particularly damaging behavior done by the defendant. 2 Punitive damages can be used to set an example. Thus, punitive damages are also referred to as “exemplary” damages, as they are intended to keep the defendant from ever repeating their bad behavior. They are also intended to keep others from committing the same behavior as the defendant.

What is punitive damages?

Punitive damages are intended to punish particularly damaging behavior done by the defendant. Punitive damages can be used to set an example. Thus, punitive damages are also referred to as “exemplary” damages, as they are intended to keep the defendant from ever repeating their bad behavior.

What is negligence in a personal injury case?

In most personal injury lawsuits, claims state that the defendant acted negligently. This differs from cases where the defendant may have acted fraudulently or intentionally, and therefore negligence cases would not involve punitive damages.

What is direct harm?

Direct Harm. In order to receive punitive damages, the plaintiff must be directly injured by the defendant. Therefore, cases in which the defendant did not directly harm the plaintiff will not lead to punitive damages.

Can a plaintiff pursue both punitive and compensatory damages?

However, plaintiffs may be able to pursue both punitive and compensatory damages under some circumstances. Punitive damages are a lot less common than compensatory damages and they are only available in extreme circumstances where a plaintiff seeks to punish particularly damaging behavior done by the defendant.

Can punitive damages be awarded without other types of damages?

Punitive damages cannot be awarded without other types of damages. Additionally, such damages must be awarded last in the train of awarded damages. Other damages can include compensatory, nominal, and restitution damages. Moreover, for punitive damages to be awarded, there must be:

Do personal injury lawsuits require damages?

Most personal injury lawsuits require damages to be paid. In many cases, defendants are required to award plaintiffs with compensatory damages, which compensate the plaintiff for injuries the defendant may have caused.

What are the elements of fraud and misrepresentation?

To recap, these are the needed elements for a fraud and misrepresentation case: A person or company makes a false statement. They make that statement intending for the receiver of the false statement to use the information. The receiver does use the information without knowing the statement is false. This use of information results in damages.

What is fraud in Michigan?

Fraud in Michigan, and in most states, is defined as a specific representation of fact meeting all of the following criteria: The statement is known to be false by the person or company making the statement. It is important that the representation being relied on as fact is not an expression of opinion or a promise to do something in the future.

How long is the statute of limitations for fraud in Michigan?

Statutes of Limitation. In Michigan, fraud and misrepresentation can be governed by a six-year statute of limitations when it occurs within a contract, or three years if it is fraud accomplished wholly apart from contract.

Does Michigan allow misrepresentation?

Michigan also permits claims for misrepresentation that were not made with malicious intent but were nonetheless false, fit the elements of fraud, and provide the person making the representation with a direct benefit.

Can a real estate agent repeat a statement?

Thus, a real estate agent who repeats a statement made by a property owner – not knowing it is false – may nonetheless be responsible for innocent misrepresentation if they make commission based on a sale that would not have occurred without the misstatement.

What is representation in a lawsuit?

A representation is a statement (e.g., “This car has never failed an inspection”) that can be proven true or false.

What is the difference between negligent misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation?

As a result of the failure, the person acting negligently causes a plaintiff to incur money damages. Negligent misrepresentation in the contract setting is the failure to verify whether a statement of fact in a contract is truthful.

What happens when you cancel a contract?

Canceling the contract terminates the contract. Under a rescission, a buyer receives a refund, and the seller gets back the property they sold. The purpose of the remedy of rescission is to place each party in the status they were in before the contract was made.

What can an attorney do for a business case?

An experienced business attorney near you can evaluate the facts of your case. The attorney can advise you as to whether you may be able to prove, using admissible evidence in court, that defendant made a false statement you relied on, to your detriment.

Can a victim be entitled to an equitable remedy?

Courts do not award damages for personal injury, emotional injury, or pain and suffering in these cases. The victim may also be entitled to an equitable remedy. An equitable remedy is a non-monetary remedy to which a prevailing party may be entitled. One type of equitable remedy is known as contract rescission.

Can a negligent misrepresentation be sued?

A victim of negligent misrepresentation in a contract may sue in court to recover money damages caused by the misrepresentation. For example, the buyer of the bike with the brakes that did not work, may sue the seller for the money the buyer had to pay for the brake inspection. In a breach of contract case for negligent misrepresentation, ...

What happens when you receive less than stellar treatment from a doctor?

When you receive less than stellar treatment from a doctor, it’s quite similar to Legal Malpractice. When you’re being represented by an attorney, you expect them to be competent, professional and capable of providing the best legal advice possible. You have every right to sue your legal team if you feel that you have been misrepresented or ...

How to prepare a legal case?

Put a summary together about your legal claim or court case. Prepare a file of all documents used in your case (your own notes too, not just legal documents) Call and schedule a free telephone or in person consultation at a time and place convenient with you.

Can you sue your legal team?

You have every right to sue your legal team if you feel that you have been misrepresented or that something is amiss during legal proceedings and has caused you a financial loss.

What is the damages in a malpractice case?

The damages in a legal malpractice case are usually the economic difference between what the client would have received if the underlying matter had been handled non-negligently, and what the client actually got. When the underlying matters was a claim or lawsuit, this could mean the likely amount that would have been recovered on ...

Why are damages recoverable in a malpractice case?

The damages are recoverable in the malpractice case because they are economic damages viewed within the context of the malpractice lawsuit. Put differently, the damage in the malpractice lawsuit is the lost judgment (or settlement). The general rule against recovery of emotional distress damages in legal malpractice cases refers to emotional ...

What is the rule against emotional distress?

The general rule against recovery of emotional distress damages in legal malpractice cases refers to emotional distress that flows from the malpractice, not the underlying injury giving rise to the "case-within-a-case" that the lawyer mishandled. For example, suppose a lawyer mishandled a lawsuit, resulting in the loss of a plaintiff’s judgment on ...

What was the Oregon case involving medical malpractice?

In a 1997 Oregon case involving medical malpractice, the court allowed recovery of emotional distress damages with no physical contract or injury, based on negligence in subjecting a patient with claustrophobia and asthma to an MRI.

What did Hilt v. Attorney do?

In Hilt, plaintiff sued her former attorney for malpractice, alleging that the attorney’s negligence in counseling her during a divorce proceeding had resulted in the loss of her equity in her home , causing her mental distress.

What does "underlying matters" mean in a lawsuit?

When the underlying matters was a claim or lawsuit, this could mean the likely amount that would have been recovered on a claim versus the amount actually recovered. However, if the client was a defendant in the underlying case, it can also be the difference between, for instance, a large judgment against the client and the absence ...

Is negligence a legal malpractice case?

The negligent failure to obtain a judgment (or settlement) in the underlying case, where the underlying claim allowed for the recovery of emotional distress damages, is actionable in a legal malpractice case, because in the malpractice case those damages are considered economic damages. This makes sense because the client was denied financial ...

How to state a claim for negligent misrepresentation?

In order to state a claim for negligent misrepresentation, the plaintiff must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that: the defendant supplied information to the plaintiff; the information was false; the defendant did not exercise reasonable care in obtaining or communicating the information; and. the plaintiff justifiably relied on the ...

What is a defendant in a business transaction?

a defendant, acting in the course of his or her business, profession, or employment, or in a transaction in which she has a pecuniary interest, supplies faulty information meant to guide another in his or her business transaction; the plaintiff justifiably relies upon the information provided by the defendant.

Is the defendant liable for the information supplied?

The defendant is liable “only to those, whether in contractual privity or not, for whose benefit and guidance the information is supplied.”. The information may be either direct or indirect. In that regard, the foreseeability of use is critical to liability.

How to win a malpractice case?

You must be able to show that the attorney either failed to uphold her part of your contract, breached her fiduciary duty or was negligent. Beyond that, you mush show that you were harmed by the attorney's action or inaction. If you can show this to be the case, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.

What happens if an attorney doesn't perform his duties?

When lawyers don't perform their duties as expected, they may be guilty of legal malpractice. If you suspect your attorney has misrepresented you, or has performed incompetently, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit.

What is the next step in a lawsuit?

The next step consists of serving a summons to the lawyer, which must be delivered in person. A summons provides notice to the defendant of a lawsuit that there is an action pending against him. The summons will compel the defendant, in this case the attorney you are suing, to answer the complaint filed against him.