Opinion ID: 2074384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Depradine Case

Text: Plaintiff Kurt Depradine sustained severe, permanent brain damage as a result of a City hospital's negligence during his birth. The jury awarded him a total of $47,418,603: $589,723 for cost of health aid until age 21 for 11.5 years, $4,076,280 for cost of therapies for 61 years, $3,944,600 for impairment of earning capability for 43 years, $23,808,000 for custodial care from age 21, $2,500,000 for pain and suffering until the date of the verdict, and $12,500,000 for future pain and suffering for 61 years. On defendant's application, Supreme Court held that each element of the damages award was grossly excessive and granted a new trial unless plaintiff stipulated to a reduced award of $9,109,692, consisting of $452,088 for cost of health aid until age 21, $1,111,604 for cost of therapies, $946,000 for impairment of earning capacity, $3,600,000 for custodial care from age 21, $1,000,000 for past pain and suffering and $2,000,000 for future pain and suffering. After plaintiff consented to the reductions, defendant sought to have the future damage award annuity contract determined by the present value of those damages, and to exclude the 4% additur from the damages calculation. Plaintiff, by contrast, based the annual payments on future damages, undiscounted, and included the 4% statutory additur in his proposed judgment. Supreme Court upheld plaintiff's calculations, and defendant appealed. Citing its decision in Bryant, the Appellate Division affirmed, concluding that the court properly structured the judgment pursuant to CPLR 5031 (e). In each case, this Court granted defendant leave to appeal.