Opinion ID: 490564
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Damages for Mental Pain and Suffering

Text: 27 The district court found that Vickers' damages totalled $503,828.21 and awarded a judgment against Chiles for $277,105.52, or fifty-five percent. Vickers complains on appeal that the district court improperly denied compensation for mental pain and suffering. 28 At trial, Ronald Pryor, a clinical psychologist, testified that Vickers suffered from anxiety, depression, tension, and emotional distress after his accident and that he even had considered suicide. Pryor explained that accident victims often experience such despair but that a recent divorce also could have caused Vickers' feelings. The district court weighed Pryor's testimony and denied recovery, holding that Vickers' has not met his burden of showing that all his psychological problems were directly caused by his accident with Chiles. (emphasis added). 29 The district court imposed too heavy a burden on Vickers by requiring him to show that the accident caused all his mental anguish. To recover, Vickers need show only that the accident was a proximate cause of some of his mental pain and suffering. See Howell v. Marmpegaso Compania Naviera, S.A., 536 F.2d 1032 (5th Cir.1976); Noble v. Bank Line, Ltd., 431 F.2d 520 (5th Cir.1970) (awarding damages for mental pain and suffering). On remand, if Ingersoll-Rand is found liable, the district court should decide whether the Chiles accident caused any (not all) of Vickers' mental suffering and, if so, how much money would compensate Vickers for the mental anguish attributable to the knee injury. Ingersoll-Rand will be responsible for its proportional share of all of Vickers' damages, including the mental anguish due to the injury. 9 30 In all other respects, we affirm the district court's calculation of total damages.