In order to recover any damages, the losses suffered by the victim must be caused by the defendant, and not be too remote.
In a commercial context this means the profits which would have been earned after deduction of costs which would have been incurred.
[2] Loss of bargain replaces expected value "so far as money can do it", a phrase adopted in the case of Robinson v Harman (1848).
[3] A plaintiff has a duty to mitigate damages and can not recover losses it could have avoided through reasonable efforts.
Nominal damages are awarded where a legal wrong has been committed but no consequential loss has been caused.