What is the plaintiff requesting if he wants to be awarded a very small amount just to signify that he has been wronged by the defendant?

In legal terms, when a plaintiff seeks to be awarded a very small amount of damages to signify that they have been wronged by the defendant, they are typically requesting what is known as "nominal damages."

Nominal damages are awarded in cases where a legal wrong has occurred, but the plaintiff has not suffered any actual monetary loss. The purpose of awarding nominal damages is to acknowledge that the plaintiff's rights were violated, even though the violation did not lead to any significant financial harm. By awarding a small amount, such as one dollar, the court is affirming that the plaintiff was indeed wronged and providing some form of recognition for the injury.

This type of award can also set a precedent or establish a legal principle, demonstrating the importance of the right that was violated, regardless of the amount involved.