12.71 DAMAGES: NOMINAL (42 U.S.C. CIV. 1983) are damages that are awarded to a plaintiff in a civil action brought under 42 U.S.C. 1983. These damages are awarded when the court finds that a constitutional violation occurred, but the plaintiff has not proven any actual damages. Nominal damages are often used as a way to recognize a violation of an individual’s rights while not requiring the defendant to pay out large sums. Types of 12.71 DAMAGES: NOMINAL (42 U.S.C. CIV. 1983) include compensatory damages, which are meant to compensate the plaintiff for their losses due to the defendant’s actions, and punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant for their actions.