Opinion ID: 1591402
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: whether the damages were excessive.

Text: ¶ 35. Hall's past medical expenses totaled $348,402.94. East Mississippi offered no rebuttal to these costs. ¶ 36. Hall was hospitalized immediately after the accident, but she had several other hospitalizations to treat the recurring infection in her leg. The circuit judge found that the average cost of these hospitalizations was $15,000. He awarded $75,000 for future medical expenses. East Mississippi offered no rebuttal to this estimate. ¶ 37. The damages total was $1,000,000, meaning that the circuit judge gave Hall $591,597.06 for pain and suffering and for a permanent physical impairment to the leg and foot. The circuit judge stated: The injuries to the Plaintiff's right foot and heel cause drainage to ooze and her sock becomes attached to the wounds when she tries to remove it. As depicted by the photographs in evidence, it is clear that the Plaintiff's right foot and lower leg are swollen and that she has significant scar tissue as well. The foot appears to be deformed with a large calloused area around the heel. . . .    She is permanently physically impaired and she will continue to have pain and suffering for the balance of her life. She has a noticeable limp in her walk and gait. ¶ 38. Hall suffered horrible injuries to her leg, and she will be impaired for the rest of her life. The amount of $591,597.06 is not even one and one-half times the amount of the compensatory damages. The circuit court's award of $1,000,000 in damages was not excessive and is supported by substantial evidence.