Opinion ID: 2433995
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Melinda Wiggins's estate

Text: Dr. Kelley argues that any damages to Melinda's estate beyond funeral expenses are based on rank speculation at best, and passion and prejudice at worst, because there is no evidence of conscious pain and suffering on her part which he could have prevented. Of course, whether he could have prevented the seizures she suffered is part of the question of liability. Here the only question we address is that of damages. We have no doubt the jury could have found great suffering on the part of Melinda during the last month of her life. We are not convinced by Dr. Kelley's argument that because she was comatose for the last two weeks she did not suffer. We need not repeat the graphic testimony of the witnesses with respect to Melinda's final illness and the accompanying convulsions. It is enough to say the evidence was clearly sufficient to serve as the basis of the jury's award of $300,000. Affirmed.