Marco is harmed when Nell defames him. If Marco brings a successful tort action against Nell, he may be awarded general damages to compensate him for
A) monetary losses, such as lost wages and benefits.
B) nonmonetary aspects of the harm suffered, such as loss of reputation.
C) the defendant's reckless disregard of the effect on the life of another.
D) all of the choices.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

General damages in a tort action are meant to compensate the plaintiff for nonmonetary aspects of harm suffered, such as loss of reputation, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. Monetary losses, such as lost wages and benefits, would fall under the category of special damages. The defendant's reckless disregard of the effect on the life of another would be a factor in determining whether punitive damages should be awarded, which are meant to punish the defendant and deter similar behavior in the future. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Marco Is Harmed When Nell Defames Him