Legal Definitions - avunculus

Award

The term "award" can function as both a noun and a verb in legal contexts.

Definition (Noun): An award is a formal decision or judgment, often involving a financial sum, that is made by an impartial third party, such as an arbitrator, a judge, or a jury. It represents the final outcome of a dispute or claim process.

Definition (Verb): To award means to formally grant or bestow something, typically money, a contract, or a privilege, through an official process, legal decree, or judicial ruling.

Examples:

• Example 1 (Noun - Arbitration): After a lengthy dispute between a homeowner and a construction company over the quality of a renovation, an independent arbitrator reviewed all the evidence and issued a final decision requiring the company to pay the homeowner $15,000 for repairs. This decision is known as the award.

  Explanation: Here, the award refers to the arbitrator's conclusive judgment, which included a specific monetary amount to resolve the conflict between the parties.

• Example 2 (Noun - Court Judgment): In a personal injury lawsuit, a jury heard testimony and examined evidence related to a car accident. They determined that the negligent driver was responsible for the plaintiff's medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and decided the plaintiff should receive $250,000. This financial determination by the jury is their award.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the award is the jury's final assessment of the damages and the amount of compensation the injured party is entitled to receive as a result of the court's judgment.

• Example 3 (Verb - Granting): A municipal government put out a public tender for a company to design and build a new community recreation center. After reviewing multiple proposals, the city council voted to award the construction contract to "Green Builders Inc." because of their innovative design and competitive pricing.

  Explanation: In this instance, "to award" is used as a verb, meaning the city council formally granted or bestowed the contract for the recreation center project to a specific company after a formal selection process.