Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. v. Pfeifer
United States Supreme Court
462 U.S. 523 (1983)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Pfeifer (plaintiff) was injured while working for Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation (defendant). Pfeifer could not return to his job after the injury but could engage in light work at minimum wage. The trial court found in favor of Pfeifer and awarded him damages by multiplying his annual wage at the time of the injury by his estimated remaining work expectancy (i.e., until age 65), subtracting his potential minimum wage earnings over that period, subtracting the compensation payments he had already received from Jones, and adding $50,000 for pain and suffering. The court did not increase the damage amount to account for inflation and did not decrease the damage amount to account for the present value of Pfeifer’s future income, finding based on a state law that these two factors offset. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Stevens, J.)
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