{"id":353475,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:02","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/invasion-of-privacy-damages-and-recovery.html"},"modified":"2025-09-11T12:08:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T17:08:36","slug":"invasion-of-privacy-damages-and-recovery","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/torts-and-personal-injuries\/invasion-of-privacy-damages-and-recovery.html","title":{"rendered":"Invasion of Privacy: Damages and Recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Invasion of Privacy: Damages and Recovery<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Robert Rafii, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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An invasion of privacy occurs when there is an intrusion upon your reasonable expectation to be left alone. You can sue the person or entity that violated your privacy. A successful claim can result in the payment of damages.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Getting compensation for an invasion of privacy is similar to other personal injury and tort cases. You must prove the elements of the violation to win the case. The damages depend on the harm suffered.<\/p>\n

This article covers the four main types of invasion of privacy claims, which are\u00a0intentional torts<\/a> (committed on purpose). All of these claims can vary in damages, so talk to a tort and personal injury lawyer<\/a> to better understand your claim.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Examples of Invasion of Privacy Cases<\/h2>\n

Let’s say you accidentally leave a personal letter containing private information on a public park bench. That letter is picked up and read by someone else. The sharing of this information damages your reputation or causes other personal injury harm. Even so, this sharing is not a violation of your privacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The general rule in privacy cases is that an invasion can only occur where there is a\u00a0“reasonable expectation of privacy.”<\/a>\u00a0This rule would only apply if the letter had not been left out in public. Since there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in public places, your privacy cannot be invaded there.<\/p>\n

Courts have used this rule in order to balance both:<\/p>\n