recovery

Recovery is the amount a prevailing party ultimately obtains through a judgment or settlement, including voluntary payments and court awards, and in some jurisdictions may also include relief such as attorney’s fees. In U.S. v. Konstovich, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals defined recovery as the amount a claimant may ultimately receive under or as a consequence of a judgment. In Long v. Farmers Insurance Company, the Oregon Supreme Court noted that recovery can also refer to a judgment itself, including voluntary settlement payments or the result of a court judgment. In Pulliam v. HNL Automotive Inc., the California Court of Appeal held that recovery for a plaintiff may include an award of attorney fees.

[Last reviewed in August of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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