Additur is a process whereby a judge increases the amount of damages awarded by a jury. This can occur if the judge finds the jury’s award to be insufficient based on the evidence presented during the trial. Additur is typically offered as an alternative to a new trial, allowing the defendant to consent to the increased amount rather than face a retrial.
The Supreme Court held in Dimick v. Schiedt that additur violates the Seventh Amendment and is not permissible in federal courts. However, some state courts do permit additur.
Compare: remittitur
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]