PROOF THAT PLAINTIFF WIFE ASSUMED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOUSEHOLD CHORES, COOKING, TRANSPORTIING THE CHILDREN, AND CARED FOR THE INJURED PLAINTIFF, WARRANTED A $40,000 AWARD FOR LOSS OF SERVICES; THE JURY HAD AWARDED $0 DAMAGES (FIRST DEPT).
The First Department, remanding for a new trial unless the parties stipulate to a damages award of $40,000 for loss of services, determined the jury’s award of $0 damages constituted a material deviation from reasonable compensation:
Plaintiff wife testified that after the injured plaintiff’s accident, she assumed full responsibility for household chores, cooking, and transportation for plaintiffs’ children, and also had to care for the injured plaintiff. This testimony is sufficient to support an award for past loss of services … . Lind v Tishman Constr. Corp. of N.Y., 2024 NY Slip Op 05540, First Dept 11-12-24
Practice Point: Consult this decision for some insight into the value of “loss of services” in a personal injury case.