4/14/16
Damages
— Nominal
— Compensatory
— Punitive
McGeev.ACandS,Inc.
1
4/14/16
CompensatoryDamages
— Special(economic)
—  Medicalexpenses(pastandfuture)
—  Lostwages(looksbackintime)
—  Lossorimpairmentoffutureearning
capacity(looksforward)
CompensatoryDamages(con’t)
— General(non-economic)
—  Physicalpainandsuffering(pastand
future)
—  Mentalanguish(pastandfuture)
—  Lossofenjoymentoflife(minority)
2
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Richardsonv.Chapman
InreSept.11thLitigation
• Appropriatemeasureofdamages?
3
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Victim,42yearsold,isseriouslyinjuredinanaccident
involvinghiscarandDriver.Theevidenceattrial
indicatesthatVictimistotallydisabled.Duetohis
injury,hislifeexpectancyhasbeenshortenedfrom31
yearsto20years,andhisworklifeexpectancyfrom
25yearstozero.Inotherwords,beforetheaccident
Victimcouldhaveexpectedtolivetotheageof73
andworktotheageof67.However,duetohis
injuries,hewillnowlikelyliveonlytotheageof62
andwillnotreturntowork.Theevidencealso
indicatesthathewillcontinuetoendurepain,
embarrassment,andotherpsychicinjuriesfromthe
accidentuntilhisdeath.
A.  IfDriverisfoundliable,forwhattimeperiodshould
thejuryassessdamagesforVictim’slostearning
capacity?
25years–pre-accidentworkexpectancy
B.  AssumingthatVictimwillcontinuetoexperiencepain
andmentalanguishfromtheaccidentaslongashe
lives,forwhatperiodshouldthejuryassessdamages
forpainandsuffering?
20years–post-accidentlifeexpectancy
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C.  ShouldthejuryawarddamagestoVictimforthe
shorteningofhislifespan?
Notinthemajorityofjurisdictions;11yearsinminority
D.  Forwhatperiodshouldthejuryawarddamagesfor
lossofenjoymentoflife?
Noneinmajority;20years–post-accidentlifeexpectancyin
minority
Damages
— Nominal
— Compensatory
— Punitive
5
4/14/16
MontgomeryWardv.Anderson
— CollateralSourceRule
•  paymentsmadetoorbenefits
conferredonplaintiffthatarecollateral
tothetortfeasorarenotconsideredin
assessingdamges
Zimmermanv.Ausland
— DoctrineofAvoidableConsequences
—  plaintiffmaynotclaimdamagesfor
permanentinjuryif
—  avoidablebysubmittingtotreatment
—  reasonablepersonwouldhavesubmitted
—  BOP?
6
4/14/16
Damages
— Nominal
— Compensatory
— Punitive
PunitiveDamages
•  norighttopunitivedamages
— statesmaymodifyoreliminate
— constitutionallimits
7
4/14/16
BMWofNAv.Gore
•  Guideposts–
•  degreeofreprehensibilityofconduct
•  ratioofharmtopunitivedamage
award
•  sanctionsinjurisforcomparable
misconduct
StateFarmv.Campbell
8