Opinion
S24C1104
10-01-2024
WALMART STORES EAST, LP v. BETTIE LEVERETTE.
Court of Appeals Case No. A24A0115
The Honorable Supreme Court met pursuant to adjournment. The following order was passed:
The Supreme Court today granted the writ of certiorari in this case as case No. S24G1104 .
This case will be assigned to the February 2025 oral argument calendar automatically under Supreme Court Rule 50 (1) (a). Oral argument is mandatory in granted certiorari cases.
This Court is particularly concerned with the following issue or issues:
1. At common law, could a court permissibly award more than a few dollars (or the equivalent) in nominal damages, or were nominal damages limited to a trivial or trifling amount given to a litigant who proved the violation of her legal rights, but not entitlement to actual damages?
2. Is there any basis in Georgia law for departing from the understanding of nominal damages at common law?
3. In light of the answers to the first two questions, is an award of $1 million in nominal damages excessive as a matter of law?
Briefs should be submitted only on these points. See Supreme Court Rule 45.
All the Justices concur.