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Civil procedure

remittitur

Remittitur is generally an order by a court for a new trial, or alternatively, for an amount of damages less than that awarded by the jury, and requires the plaintiff to choose between the two. The term remittitur is also used to refer to the written and signed document that a party who was awarded damages in a trial (the plaintiff) may file with the clerk if it agrees to remit or accept the court’s suggestion of lesser damages than were awarded.

In Maryland, remittitur is a legal concept where a judge may reduce the amount of damages awarded by a jury if the judge finds that the award exceeds what would be considered reasonable compensation. The judge may offer the plaintiff the option of accepting a lower amount of damages or proceeding to a new trial. This practice is based on the principle that excessive jury awards can be corrected by the court to conform to the evidence presented. If the plaintiff agrees to the reduced amount, they may file a remittitur, which is a formal acceptance of the reduced damages. This process allows the plaintiff to avoid the uncertainty and expense of a new trial while still receiving compensation. Maryland courts have the authority to suggest a remittitur when they deem a jury's damages award to be excessive, but the plaintiff is not obligated to accept it and may choose to retry the case instead.

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Civil procedure

remittitur

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Civil procedure

remittitur