13.71 DAMAGES: NOMINAL (42 U.S.C. CIV. 1983) is a type of civil damage award that is given to a plaintiff in a civil action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This type of damage award is intended to recognize a plaintiff's constitutional right to be free from certain forms of government action or inaction. It is a small amount of money that is awarded to a plaintiff as a "symbolic" gesture of recognition, rather than as a form of monetary compensation. Nominal damages are awarded when a plaintiff has suffered a legal injury, but no actual damages have been proven. Examples of nominal damages include cases where the plaintiff has suffered an invasion of privacy or a violation of a contract. The amount of nominal damages can vary, but it is usually in the range of $1-$10. Nominal damages are different from compensatory damages, which are awarded when actual damages have been suffered.