Category: Personal Injury/Wrongful Death

When Litigation Proceeds Are Taxable

Economic damages should return a plaintiff to the position they would have been in “but for” the underlying improper act[s] by the defendant.  They should not provide a windfall to plaintiff.  In a similar vein, whether such damages are taxable is generally related to how the proceeds would have been treated if obtained in the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2019/01/when-litigation-proceeds-are-taxable/

NFL Player Claims Lost Earnings of $180 Million

It has been reported that Sharrif Floyd, a former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle, will sue the notable surgeon who he claims prematurely ended his NFL career.  Floyd is claiming damages of $180 million, an amount described as his lost future earnings in the NFL. Many have questioned the reasonableness of the reported claim.  While NFL …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/11/nfl-player-claims-lost-earnings-of-180-million/

Valuing Higher Education in Lost Income Claims

A typical lost earnings analysis endeavors to value the personal income that was lost due to injury or loss of employment opportunities.  This is more challenging when income is not yet established, e.g. when the injured Plaintiff has yet to enter the workforce or there is evidence that the Plaintiff would have otherwise altered their …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/09/valuing-higher-education-in-lost-income-claims/

Calculating Future Lost Earnings with No Earnings History

One common point of disagreement amongst opposing sides of a lost earnings case is future earnings, especially when the claimant has no meaningful earnings history.  This typically occurs in personal injury cases in which the injured party is a child or an adolescent.  Recently published data by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/06/calculating-future-lost-earnings-with-no-earnings-history/

Calculate Economic Damages Associated with Lost Earnings Claims Accurately and Efficiently

Lost compensation is a method of capturing economic damages in personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful termination, failure to promote and other similar torts.  Independent damages experts (often economists or CPAs) are often employed to calculate lost compensation because of their unique background/skill set in addressing such economic losses.  However, the desire to minimize costs means …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/04/calculate-economic-damages-associated-with-lost-earnings-claims-accurately-and-efficiently/

Virtual Reality Will Change the Way Juries View Evidence

A recent article available at www.digitaltrends.com describes how virtual reality may soon allow jurors to explore crime scenes as they actually appeared.  In the article, Dr. Mehzeb Chowdhury, a researcher in forensic science and criminal investigations at Durham University in the U.K.m describes his MABMAT robotic imaging system as capable of capturing every detail of an …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2016/09/virtual-reality-will-change-the-way-juries-view-evidence/

Appeals Court Requires a Medical Expert to Prove Discomfort Causation

The San Antonio Court of Appeals recently affirmed summary judgment for Marathon Oil Corporation in their defense against a case brought by Michael and Myra Cerny.  The underlying litigation alleged that emissions from Marathon plants caused the Cernys various injuries and property damage. However, the Cernys presented no expert medical testimony on the causation of …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/10/appeals-court-requires-a-medical-expert-to-prove-discomfort-causation/

Costs Excluded From Prejudgment Interest Calculation In Personal Injury Award

Prejudgment interest is often applied to a personal injury award in an attempt to capture the lost value of the use of monies prior to the judgment date.  A recent case, Bean v. Pacific Coast Elevator Corporation (“Pacific Coast”), has addressed whether costs awarded to a plaintiff in addition to damages are also subject to prejudgment interest.  …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/03/costs-excluded-from-prejudgment-interest-calculation-in-personal-injury-award/

Court rules indemnification plaintiff doesn’t have to rely only on former opposing expert.

In National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh Pa. v. Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co., the California Court of Appeal in the Second District held that a subsequent indemnity coverage action by an insurer may include expert opinions not presented by the original plaintiff’s experts in the underlying dispute.The underlying plaintiff settled with Costco …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/02/court-rules-indemnification-plaintiff-doesnt-have-to-rely-only-on-former-opposing-expert/

New Method for Submitting OSHA Whistleblower Complaints

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s Whistleblower Protection Program is now accepting whistleblower complaints filed online. The online form can be completed electronically or downloaded and submitted by fax, mail or hand-delivery to a regional office.  The form asks basic information of the employee, including: Contact information; Bargaining unit representative information; Employer and supervisor information; and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2014/01/new-method-for-submitting-osha-whistleblower-complaints/