DE MELIORIBUS DAMNIS

de  melioribus  damnis (dee  mee-lee-or-<<schwa>>-b<<schwa>>s  dam-nis).  [Law Latin]  Of

the better damages. • This term  describes a plaintiff’s election  of the  defendant against which to

take  judgment  when  the  jury  has  mistakenly  awarded  separate  damages  against  two  or  more

defendants for a joint tort. Under these circumstances, the plaintiff could take a judgment against

the defendant that had been assessed the greatest damages, and then enter a nolle prosequi against

the others. [Cases: Judgment    240, 256(4, 5).C.J.S. Judgments §§ 39–41, 58–59.] [Blacks Law 8th]