Monessen Southwestern Railway Co. v. Morgan

486 U.S. 330, 108 S. Ct. 1837, 100 L. Ed. 2d 349 (1988)

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Monessen Southwestern Railway Co. v. Morgan

United States Supreme Court
486 U.S. 330, 108 S. Ct. 1837, 100 L. Ed. 2d 349 (1988)

Facts

Mr. Morgan (plaintiff) worked as a brakeman for the Monessen Southwestern Railway Company (Monessen) (defendant). Morgan fell while working and suffered a permanent back injury. Morgan’s injury required that Morgan take a different position when he returned to work. The new position lacked certain extra compensation opportunities relative to the former position. Morgan sued Monessen under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) in state court, claiming that Monessen’s negligence led to his fall. Morgan’s suit included a claim for lost future earnings. The trial judge instructed the jury to not discount its award to present value. The jury awarded Morgan damages. The trial judge applied Rule 238 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure to add prejudgment interest to the award. Monessen appealed, arguing that both the jury instruction and the addition of prejudgment interest were improper. The state intermediate appellate court and the state supreme court affirmed. Monessen then appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)

Concurrence

Concurrence

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