Gleason v. Kueker
Iowa Court of Appeals
641 N.W.2d 553 (2001)
- Written by Kate Luck, JD
Facts
Mary Gleason (plaintiff) was injured after she was rear-ended by Gary Kueker (defendant) at a stoplight. Mary and her husband (plaintiff) sued Kueker for negligence and loss of consortium. Mary’s chiropractor testified at trial that Mary had a 32 percent impairment to her whole body, that Mary’s condition would worsen, and that Mary would eventually need surgery. Mary testified that her past medical expenses totaled $17,607.59 in the four years since the accident. Mary estimated her future medical expenses would be approximately $132,000 by multiplying her past annual medical expenses by her life expectancy of 30.3 years. The jury awarded the Gleasons $126,400 for future medical expenses. Kueker moved for a new trial and, alternatively, for remittitur. The trial court denied both motions, and Kueker appealed. Kueker argued on appeal that the jury failed to discount the future damages award to its present value, because the amount of the award was very close to Mary’s estimated future medical expenses.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Vaitheswaran, J.)
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