Under what circumstance would a plaintiff's damages be barred in a civil case?

In a civil case, a plaintiff's damages can indeed be barred if it is established that the plaintiff committed fraud to obtain those damages. This principle is based on the legal notion that a party cannot profit from their own wrongdoing. Courts are vigilant against fraud and have established that any claims or damages arising from fraudulent behavior are not enforceable. If a plaintiff has engaged in dishonest conduct to manipulate the circumstances surrounding their claim or to deceive the court, the integrity of the legal process is compromised, and as a result, they may be denied recovery for those damages.

In contrast, other options present different scenarios that do not inherently result in a complete barring of damages. For instance, if the defendant was never served, it could mean that the case cannot proceed, but it does not directly negate the claims or damages themselves; they are simply unpursued until proper service is achieved. Similarly, a settlement with an insurance company typically relates only to the distribution of liability and does not bar damages outright, although it might affect what can be claimed later. Finally, if a claim falls outside the statute of limitations, while it does prevent the claim from being enforced, it does not equate to a bar on damages per se but restricts the ability to bring