Debus v. Grand Union Stores
Supreme Court of Vermont
621 A.2d 1288 (1993)
Relevant factsFree
Debus (plaintiff) was injured by falling boxes at Grand Union (defendant); during closing arguments, her attorney suggested a per diem rate for calculating her ongoing pain and suffering damages, explicitly noting it was only a suggestion the jury could disregard. The jury awarded her $346,276.23, less than the amount her attorney's calculation implied, and Grand Union appealed, challenging the propriety of the per diem argument.
IssueFree
Whether a suggestion of a per diem amount for ongoing pain and suffering to the jury is inherently improper or prejudicial.