Recognizing the time value of money, Georgia law requires that an award of damages representing a present compensation for any future pecuniary loss be reduced to its “present value.” In some ways this is common sense. If, as the result of a wrongful death, wages for the next 20 years…
Georgia law is unique in the context of a wrongful death action in that it divides a wrongful death claim into two parts. The first part, which we have previously blogged about, involves the rights of the survivors of the deceased to seek compensation for “the full value” of the…
In a Georgia wrongful death case, it is important that the plaintiff establish all economic and non-economic damages caused by the wrongful death. Economic damages obviously include an analysis of how much income and wage was lost by the untimely demise of the decedent. Proving non-economic damages, however, does not…
In Georgia, juries are not reluctant to impose punitive damages against drunk drivers. It is common knowledge that drunk driving is a grave danger to the motoring public. Anyone who gets behind the wheel after having consumed intoxicating drugs or beverages obviously poses a risk of danger to the public.…
In terms of a jury presentation, attorneys often disagree about the best approach to demonstrate the economic losses caused by a wrongful death. If the decedent was a substantial wage earner who lost, not only substantial earnings, but also valuable fringe benefits such as 401(k), profit sharing and other similar…
Georgia’s law on the wrongful death of an individual has several unique provisions. If a deceased is survived by a spouse or if there is no surviving spouse, a child or children, either may recover the full value of the life of the decedent as shown by the evidence. A…
Until a few years ago, a plaintiff in a personal injury or serious injury lawsuit had to take the deposition testimony of all treating physicians in order to be able to introduce the deposition for a jury’s consideration. This is because testimony by a doctor without being subject to cross-examination…
In a Wrongful Death case, Georgia law allows recovery for “the full value of the life of the deceased with deduction for ordinary and necessary expenses had he/she lived.” See O.C.G.A. § 51-4-1 et. seq. The term “full value of life” is somewhat elusive on its face but nonetheless, Georgia…
Lately there has been a lot of publicity about the death of a 17-year old track star due to her use of the common muscle relaxant sports cream Bengay. As I was reading these articles, it reminded me of case I handled several years ago involving a similar product called…
Lawyers in Georgia who handle serious injury and wrongful death cases are often confronted with situations where their clients are hospitalized and later acquire a Staph infection which greatly complicates their recovery. We also see cases where clients call complaining about the development of an infection while hospitalized for one…