Maryland Jury Instruction - 3.3 Breach of Fiduciary Duty

• Category: Federal - Jury Instructions
• State: Multi-State
• Control #: US-11C-0-3-3
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form contains sample jury instructions, to be used across the United States. These questions are to be used only as a model, and should be altered to more perfectly fit your own cause of action needs.

Maryland Jury Instruction — 3.3 Breach of Fiduciary Duty In Maryland, a fiduciary duty is a legal obligation that arises when one party, known as the fiduciary, is entrusted with the responsibility to act in the best interests of another party, known as the beneficiary. When a fiduciary fails to fulfill this duty, it is considered a breach of fiduciary duty. Maryland Jury Instruction — 3.3 provides guidance to the jury on assessing whether a breach of fiduciary duty has occurred in a given case. This jury instruction is crucial in cases where individuals or entities, such as trustees, attorneys, corporate directors, or financial advisors, owe fiduciary duties to their clients, beneficiaries, or shareholders. It outlines the necessary elements that the plaintiff must prove to establish a breach of fiduciary duty claim. The key elements covered in Maryland Jury Instruction — 3.3 may include the following: 1. Fiduciary duty: The instruction defines the fiduciary duty owed by the defendant and emphasizes the special relationship of trust, confidence, and loyalty required. It highlights that the fiduciary must act solely in the best interests of the beneficiary or client. 2. Breach of duty: The instruction explains that a breach of fiduciary duty occurs when the fiduciary fails to meet the high standard of care and breaches the duty owed to the beneficiary. The breach can result from acts of omission or commission, where the fiduciary's actions fall below the expected level of prudence and good faith. 3. Causation: The instruction may address the requirement to prove a causal link between the breach of fiduciary duty and the harm suffered by the beneficiary. It is necessary to establish that the breach directly contributed to the damages sustained. 4. Damages: The instruction may guide the jury on the different types of damages that can be awarded in a breach of fiduciary duty case. These may include compensatory damages to cover the financial losses suffered, as well as potential punitive damages in cases involving intentional misconduct or egregious behavior. It's important to note that while Maryland Jury Instruction — 3.3 provides a general framework, variations and adaptations may exist based on the specifics of each case and the court's discretion. Therefore, it's essential for the involved parties and legal professionals to consult the exact instruction relevant to their case. Different types or variations of Maryland Jury Instruction — 3.3 Breach of Fiduciary Duty may not be explicitly named, as the instruction serves as a general guideline applicable to various fiduciary relationships and situations. However, the actual instructions used in a particular case may be modified or supplemented to address the specific legal context or unique elements of the claimed breach.