Opinion ID: 449688
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Evidence of Lost Earning Capacity

Text: 34 Mintec further contests the sufficiency of the evidence relating to Massicott's diminished earning capacity. It argues that Massicott's claims are unbelievable in light of the undisputed fact that he continued to work for HOVIC with no reduction in salary for several years following the accident. Mintec contends that Massicott was terminated by HOVIC solely as a result of a general reduction in the work force. 35 Although the evidence is far from overwhelming, we must conclude that there is sufficient support in the record to permit a jury finding of diminished earning capacity. One of Massicott's former supervisors testified that Massicott had been a strong and energetic worker. Another supervisor testified that following the accident Massicott was unable to perform his usual job tasks and was relegated to the position of an errand boy. A vocational rehabilitation expert, testifying by means of a videotaped deposition, stated that because of Massicott's unstable emotional condition, he was at best marginally employable in a very non-stressful, non-pressured, easy kind of job. The expert concluded that Massicott had an approximate annual earning capacity of $6,000. Finally, utilizing the testimony of the vocational expert, an economist calculated the lifetime value of Massicott's lost earning capacity. Reduced to present value, this figure was $644,489. The jury awarded Massicott $350,000 in lost future earnings. Given the foregoing evidence, we cannot say that this award was without sufficient support in the record. 36 In summary, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence in the record to support a jury finding that Massicott suffered physical harm and that the harm he sustained was legally caused by Mintec. See Restatement (Second) of Torts Sec. 436A, comment c and Sec. 436(2) (1965). We have further determined that the evidence is sufficient to support Massicott's claims of diminished earning capacity. We observe that while Mintec sought a total reversal of Massicott's award, it did not attack the amount of the jury verdict. Accordingly, we will uphold the verdict in favor of Martin Massicott for the full amount awarded.