Laney v. Vance
Mississippi Supreme Court
112 So. 3d 1079 (2013)
Relevant factsFree
Hemphill died three days after Dr. Laney (defendant) left an infected dialysis catheter in place and treated her with antibiotics before eventually escalating to intensive care; her husband Vance (plaintiff) sued for wrongful death, and the trial court instructed the jury to add the value of Hemphill's life to any damages award, resulting in a $1,000,000 verdict including $800,000 in noneconomic damages. Laney appealed the jury instruction on value of life.
IssueFree
Whether, in a wrongful-death suit, a plaintiff can recover for the value of the decedent's life or the loss of the decedent's enjoyment of life.