What is a remittitur?

A remittitur is a court order which reduces the amount of damages awarded by a jury in a civil lawsuit. In Washington State, a judge may remit (reduce) the amount of damages awarded if he or she determines the amount to be excessive or unreasonable. The judge will consider the facts of the case and the evidence presented during trial when making a decision. The remittitur will be issued to the plaintiff (person/entity who brought the lawsuit) and the defendant (person/entity being sued) and will be accompanied by a written opinion from the court. Once the remittitur is issued, the plaintiff has two options: accept the reduced damages and end the case, or reject the remittitur and begin a new trial. If the plaintiff rejects the remittitur, they will likely have to pay the defendant’s costs associated with the trial. While a remittitur reduces the damages awarded by the jury, it does not prevent the plaintiff from seeking additional compensation through other legal remedies.

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What is a remittitur?

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