Anderson v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
377 F.Supp. 136 (E.D. La. 1974)
Relevant factsFree
Helen Britain (plaintiff), a minor, suffered severe permanent burns, lost 80% of her scalp, lost use of parts of her hands and normal leg function, and endured lasting psychological trauma after a defective Sears (defendant) heater caused a house fire; the jury awarded $2,000,000, and Sears moved for remittitur, arguing the award exceeded what a reasonable jury could find.
IssueFree
Whether $2,000,000 exceeds the maximum damages a reasonable jury could find for a victim severely and permanently scarred both physically and mentally by a fire.