Reilly v. United States
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
863 F.2d 149 (1988)
- Written by Rose VanHofwegen, JD
Facts
Because of a doctor’s negligence, Heather Reilly suffered severe brain injuries during birth that left her unable to see, walk, talk, feed, or care for herself. Her parents Peter and Donna Reilly (plaintiffs) brought a lawsuit on her behalf to recover damages including lost future earnings. At the bench trial, the government (defendant) argued that the judge should calculate lost earnings using Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tables that showed on average women work for only 28 years. The Reillys’ experts countered that Heather would likely have worked 48 years. The judge rejected the BLS figures and assumed a 48-year work-life, resulting in an award of $1,104,641 of lost earnings. The government appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Selya, J.)
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