Nominal

Existing in name only; formal, and not substantial.

Titular; existing in name only; not real or substantial; connected with the transaction or proceeding in name only, not in interest.

— Nominal consideration. See Consideration.

— Nominal damages. See Damages.

— Nominal defendant. A person who is joined as defendant in an action, not because he is immediately liable in damages or because any specific relief is demanded as against him, but because his connection with the subject-matter is such that the plaintiff's action would be defective, under the technical rules of practice, if he were not joined.
—-Nominal partner. A person who appears to be a partner in a firm, or is so represented to persons dealing with the firm, or who allows his name to appear in the style of the firm or to be used in its business, in the character of a partner, but who has no actual interest in the firm or business. Story, Partn. § 80.

— Nominal plaintiff. One who has no interest in tbs subject-matter of the action, having assigned the same to another, (the real plaintiff in interest, or "use plaintiff,") but who must be joined as plaintiff, because, under technical rules of practice, the suit cannot be brought directly in the name of the assignee.

Existing in name merely; apparent, not real or substantial. Nominal damages: a trivial sum awarded where there is no substantial loss, but a mere technical breach of duty or violation of right Nominal partner: one who appears, or is held out to the world as a partner, but who has no real interest in the firm or business. Nominandi et appnnctnandi,/. Of nominating and appointing.

Titular; existing in name only; not real or substantial; connected with the transaction or preceeding in name only, not in interest.

Existing in name only; apparent, formal, not real or substantial: as, nominal — damages, date, partner, party, qq.v.

Apparent; formal; verbal; the antithesis of real or substantial. Nominal damages. When plaintiff in an action of tort proves the technical commission of the wrong alleged, but does not appear to have suffered any substantial injury, some damages must be awarded him because he has proved a cause of action; but they can be only trivial, because no loss has been sustained. Such an award is called giving nominal damages. An example is where plaintiff sues for a slander, which he proves, but defendant shows that plaintiff was a person of no i-eputation. In such a case, the jury will often award only six and a quarter cents damages. Nominal partner. An apparent partner; one who is held out as being a member of a firm when he has no ownership of the capital nor any interest in the business or profits. Nominal party, plaintiff, or defendant. One who is joined as party to a suit, in obedience to some technical rule of law, but who has no real interest in the controversy, no substantial right upon which the court is called to pass.

relating to a name. A nominal! plaintiffis one in whose name an action is brought, for the use of another. In this case, the nominal plaintiff has no control over the action, nor is he responsible for costs. 1 Dall. 189; 2 Watts. R. 12. A nominal partner is one who without having an actual interest in the profits of a concern, allows his name to be used, or agrees that it shall be continued therein, as a partner; such nominal partner is clearly liable to the creditors of the firm, as a general partner, although the creditors were ignorant at the time of dealing, that his name was used. 2 H. BI. 242, 246; 1 Esp. R. 31; 2 Campb. 302; 16 East, R. 174; 2B. & C. 4ll.