Courts may award which combination of damages?

• A. Compensatory damages ONLY
• B. Nominal damages ONLY
• C. Compensatory AND punitive damages
• D. Court does NOT award punitive damages ONLY

Answer: (C)

Damages in civil cases can include compensation for actual losses and, in certain circumstances, extra penalties to punish and deter wrongful conduct. Compensatory damages cover things like medical bills, lost wages, property repair, and other verifiable harms. Punitive damages are not about making the plaintiff whole again; they’re additional penalties aimed at punishing the defendant for especially egregious behavior and deterring others.

In the same lawsuit, both types can be awarded if the conduct warrants punishment beyond mere compensation. That’s why the best choice reflects a combination of compensatory and punitive damages. The other options are less fitting because compensatory damages alone misses the possibility of punishment in serious cases, nominal damages alone are for when there’s a legal wrong but no actual loss, and punitive damages are not typically awarded by themselves without the accompanying compensatory damages.