What was held in the case of Ashby v. White in regard to damages?

In the leading case of Ashby v. White, which is illustrative of violation of an absolute right, the Court held that “Every injury imports a damage; though it does not cost the party one farthing, and it is impossible to prove the contrary; for a damage is not merely pecuniary, but an injury imports a damage, when a man is thereby hindered of his right. As in an action for slanderous words, though a man does not lose a penny by reason of the speaking them, yet he shall have an action. So if a man gives another a cuff on the ear, though it costs him nothing, not so much as a little diachylon (plaster), yet he shall have his action, for it is personal injury. So a man shall have an action against another for riding over his ground, though it does him no damage; for it is an invasion of his property and the other has no right to come there”.


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