Admiralty – Tort/Negligence – Damages – Lost Wages & Medical Expenses

Plaintiff suffered significant injuries when defendant slowed the boat that was towing plaintiff on an inner tube, causing plaintiff to collide with the boat’s propeller. Even though plaintiff employed a life care planner to estimate the expenses plaintiff will confront as a result of the injuries she suffered, given plaintiff’s testimony and her practice of dealing with her pain by taking over-the-counter medications, exercising and doing yoga, the court limits its award of future medical treatments to those plaintiff is likely to undergo.

The court awards plaintiff a total of $773,421.37 for past and future lost wages, past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future mental anguish, scarring and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and prejudgment interest.

Sophia v. Buchanan (Lawyers Weekly No. 002-130-18, 7 pp.) (Richard Mark Gergel, J.) 2:17-cv-01094; Edward Paul Gibson, Stephan Futeral and Thomas Charles Nelson for plaintiff; David Michael Collins for defendant. D.S.C.