In which type of compensation does the dollar value of the violation not need to be proved?

General compensatory damages are awarded to compensate a plaintiff for losses that are not easily quantifiable. These damages are meant to provide restitution for non-economic harm, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of companionship. Because these types of damages are inherently subjective and vary from case to case, there is no requirement to prove a specific dollar amount tied directly to the violation. Instead, the court will consider the overall impact of the injury and the individual's experiences.

In contrast, special compensatory damages refer to out-of-pocket expenses that can be specifically quantified, such as medical bills or lost wages, requiring documentation and evidence to support the claimed amount. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for particularly egregious behavior and deter similar conduct in the future, but they also require a factual basis of wrongdoing. Nominal damages are designed to recognize a legal wrong when there is no substantial loss, and while they don't require a large sum to be demonstrated, they do usually imply some form of damage recognition rather than addressing the broader scope of harm covered by general compensatory damages.

Thus, general compensatory damages uniquely do not necessitate proof of a specific dollar value tied to the violation, making them distinct in their requirement and application.