What is the term for a small amount awarded when there is a technical breach but no injury?

The term for a small amount awarded when there is a technical breach but no injury is nominal damages. These damages are meant to recognize that a breach of duty occurred, even if the party who suffered the breach did not experience any actual harm or loss. The amount awarded is typically minimal, serving more to affirm that the rights of the injured party were violated rather than to provide compensation for any significant damage.

Nominal damages are often used in legal cases to establish a party's right to legal principles, emphasizing that not every breach necessarily results in measurable harm. This concept encourages adherence to legal standards while ensuring that individuals can seek justice even when actual damages are hard to quantify.

Other types of damages, such as compensatory damages, are designed to reimburse the injured party for actual losses incurred, while punitive damages serve to punish wrongful conduct and deter future violations. Liquidated damages are predetermined amounts specified within a contract to be paid in the event of a breach, aiming at providing a clear outcome for violations. In contrast, nominal damages focus on recognizing the breach itself rather than the consequences it may or may not have caused.