Opinion ID: 2057254
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Argument on Damages

Text: North Western next contends that the trial judge improperly limited the scope of closing argument by granting the plaintiff's motion in limine to prevent the railroad's counsel from arguing that any sum of damages awarded to the plaintiff could be invested to produce a stream of income. It is clear that such argument would have been error and that the trial judge was correct in prohibiting the argument. Under Illinois law, future damages for medical expenses and lost earnings are to be discounted to present cash value, but damages for pain and suffering, disability, and disfigurement are not to be discounted to present cash value. (See IPI Civil 2d, No. 34.02, Comment, at 192 (citing Allendorf v. Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. Co. (1956), 8 Ill.2d 164; Avance v. Thompson (1944), 387 Ill. 77; Howard v. Gulf, Mobile & Ohio R.R. Co. (1957), 13 Ill. App.2d 482).) The jury instructions that were used in this case reflected that rule. (See IPI Civil 2d Nos. 30.01, 30.04, 30.05, 30.06, 30.07, 34.04.) Under the instructions, a sum of future damages is reduced to present cash value by taking into account the investment income that may be generated on a present award of compensation. Here, the plaintiff sought to preclude any argument that would have suggested to the jury that they should consider, in determining damages, any income that could be obtained by investment of the sums of future damages computed by the plaintiff's expert, Professor Linke. In this case, North Western's argument would only have had the effect of inviting the jury to make either an additional reduction in sums already reduced to present cash value by Professor Linke, or an improper reduction in sums that should not be reduced to present cash value, such as damages for pain and suffering. North Western contends, however, that the record in this case contained evidence supporting the suggested argument. North Western relies on certain statements by the plaintiff's economist, Professor Linke, regarding the amount of money that could be earned at then-current interest rates on the sums he had calculated for future lost earnings and future medical expenses. In citing that testimony, however, North Western ignores the witness' explanation that he had already reduced the sums to present cash value and that further consideration of the income that could be earned on investment of those amounts would be unwarranted, representing an additional reduction to present cash value.