West Virginia Jury Instruction — 1.1 Duty To Mitigate In General is a legal instruction that outlines the defendant's responsibility to minimize damages in a civil lawsuit. This instruction emphasizes the principle of mitigation, which requires the plaintiff to take reasonable steps to reduce their losses after being harmed by the defendant's actions. Here is a detailed description of this jury instruction, along with some additional types of instructions related to mitigating damages in West Virginia: 1.1 Duty To Mitigate In General: The West Virginia Jury Instruction — 1.1 Duty To Mitigate In General highlights the importance of the plaintiff's duty to mitigate damages following a lawsuit. It instructs the jury that the plaintiff cannot recover damages for any loss that could have been reasonably avoided through proper action or reasonable efforts. The purpose of this instruction is to ensure fairness and prevent the plaintiff from unnecessarily increasing their damages. Types of West Virginia Jury Instructions related to mitigating damages: 1.1.1 Failure to Mitigate Damages: This specific instruction focuses on cases where the plaintiff fails to take reasonable steps to minimize their losses. It advises the jury that if they find the plaintiff did not act reasonably to reduce damages, the defendant should not be held liable for the additional harm that could have been avoided. 1.1.2 Mitigation of Economic Damages: This instruction addresses cases involving economic damages, such as lost wages or medical expenses. It informs the jury that the plaintiff's duty to mitigate applies specifically to economic losses and that they should consider whether the plaintiff made reasonable efforts to limit their financial burden. 1.1.3 Mitigation of Non-economic Damages: This instruction pertains to cases involving non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering or emotional distress. It instructs the jury to evaluate whether the plaintiff took reasonable steps to minimize their emotional or mental harm, and if not, it may reduce the amount of compensation awarded. 1.1.4 Reasonableness of Applicant's Actions: This instruction focuses on cases involving plaintiff's applications for insurance or benefits. It advises the jury to consider whether the plaintiff's actions in obtaining coverage or benefits were reasonable and whether they could have mitigated their damages by exercising more diligence or prudence. In summary, West Virginia Jury Instruction — 1.1 Duty To Mitigate In General is a crucial legal instruction that reminds the jury of the plaintiff's duty to take reasonable steps to minimize damages. It ensures fairness in civil lawsuits by preventing the plaintiff from seeking excessive compensation for losses that could have been reasonably avoided.