Opinion ID: 718634
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Lost future wages

Text: 18 Scurlock argues the district court erred in denying its motion for judgment as a matter of law on Gautreaux's claim for lost future wages, because Gautreaux failed to introduce any expert testimony or other vocational disability evidence demonstrating that he suffered diminished future earning capacity beyond the two years medical experts testified it would take him to adjust to monoscopic vision. Instead, the only evidence of disability was Gautreaux's own testimony that he did not feel comfortable returning to his pre-injury employment. Scurlock contends the record is, therefore, devoid of competent evidence supporting a claim for lost future wages for any period beyond the two-year period of adjustment. 19 Judgment as a matter of law in a Jones Act case is appropriate only when there is a complete absence of probative facts supporting the nonmovant's position. See, e.g., Hughes v. International Diving & Consulting Servs., Inc., 68 F.3d 90, 93 (5th Cir.1995). As this standard is highly favorable to the plaintiff, we must validate the jury verdict if at all possible. Id. As there was more than adequate evidence upon which to submit to the jury the question of Gautreaux's lost future wages, validation of the verdict in this case is appropriate. 20 Dr. J. Bruce Steigner, the ophthalmologist who surgically removed Gautreaux's crushed right eye and monitored his recovery from the injury, testified that Gautreaux's loss of one eye equated to a 50% disability of his visual system and a 25% disability of his total anatomy according to guidelines of the American Medical Association. Dr. Steigner further stated that loss of an eye greatly impairs one's depth perception and peripheral vision, impairments which he believed would make piloting a tug difficult. Scurlock's psychiatric expert testified that Gautreaux suffered from an adjustment disorder accompanied by depression, a condition not uncommon following such an injury. He indicated that, while he did not think Gautreaux was disabled by this condition, he did believe Gautreaux harbored legitimate fears about his post-injury condition and recommended that Gautreaux not put himself in positions that could threaten the safety of his other eye. Finally, expert economic testimony quantified Gautreaux's alleged loss. This evidence, combined with Gautreaux's testimony that he fears returning to his former position and losing his other eye, that he has only a tenth grade education, and that he has been trained on and worked on boats most of his work life, sufficiently supports the district court's decision to submit the issue of lost future wages to the jury.