Sullivan v. Old Colony Street Railway

Citation. Sullivan v. Old C. S. R. Co., 200 Mass. 303, 86 N.E. 511, 1908 Mass. LEXIS 1052 (Mass. 1908)

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CitationSullivan v. Old C. S. R. Co., 200 Mass. 303, 86 N.E. 511, 1908 Mass. LEXIS 1052 (Mass. 1908)

Brief Fact Summary. There are no facts in the casebook.

Synopsis of Rule of Law. The principle behind awarding a party damages, is compensation, the equivalent in money for the actual loss caused by the wrong of another.

Points of Law - Legal Principles in this Case for Law Students.

In cases of negligence, there is no such invasion of rights as to entitle a plaintiff to recover at least nominal damages.

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Issue. Is compensation the principle behind awarding a party damages?

Held. Yes.
* The principle behind awarding a party damages, is compensation, the equivalent in money for the actual loss caused by the wrong of another.
* This is the foundation of an award for damages, which tests the soundness of claims for the inclusion of new elements or types of damage in an award for money damages.

Discussion. The purpose of an award of money damages is compensation. Compensation is given to an injured party to substitute or replace the actual loss caused by the wrongfully acts of another.