California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from Walnut Manor Assoc.s v. Keys, C057198, No.CV991464 (Cal. App. 2010):
Plaintiff contends it is nevertheless entitled to nominal damages. Civil Code section 3360 states: "When a breach of duty has caused no appreciable detriment to the party affected, he may yet recover nominal damages." "Nominal damages are properly awarded in two circumstances: (1) Where there is no loss or injury to be compensated but where the law still recognizes a technical invasion of a plaintiff's right or a breach of a defendant's duty; and (2) although there have been real, actual injury and damages suffered by a plaintiff, the extent of plaintiff's injury and damages cannot be determined from the evidence presented." (Avina v. Spurlock (1972) 28 Cal.App.3d 1086, 1088.)
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