Opinion ID: 1983306
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Recovery for Increased Risk of Harm Viewed as a Probability of Future Injury

Text: a. May a plaintiff who successfully asserts a claim pursuant to 18 Del.C. § 6853 recover, as an element of damages, for increased risk of future cancer where the evidence shows that the plaintiff probably will not suffer the future cancer? b. May a plaintiff bring an independent cause of action to recover for increased risk of future cancer where the evidence shows that the plaintiff probably will not suffer the future cancer? We hold that increased risk of harm accompanied by physical injury is a compensable element of damages under Delaware law. Accordingly, we answer questions I.a. and II.a. in the AFFIRMATIVE. We respectfully decline, however, to answer questions I.b. and II.b. since an answer to these questions would not affect the outcome of the litigation. Questions I.a. and II.a. appear to overlap considerably. Question II.a. is subsumed within I.a. since the undisputed facts indicate that plaintiff has only a 15 percent risk of suffering a recurrence. Therefore, any decision with respect to I.a. necessarily must consider the fact that plaintiff probably will not suffer the future cancer. Questions I.b. and II.b. also follow the same form. In the interests of clarity, we will consider questions I.a. and II.a., and I.b. and II.b., together.