Court Opinion

ID: 9744006
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:52:03.919731+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:46.195602
License: Public Domain

STATON, Judge,
concurring.
I concur only in the result of the majority opinion. While the opinion is correct in stating that “[a] jury, cannot, ..., restore the enjoyment to life” (Opinion, p. 1249, I believe that juries should be allowed to consider the loss of the quality and enjoyment of life. However, consciously or not, such consideration occurs when the jury considers the nature and extent of the injury or the permanency of the injury. Thus, while I condone presenting the loss of the quality and enjoyment of life as a factor of one of the other elements, I believe it should be coupled with either the nature and extent of the injury or the permanency of the injury. As explained in my concurring opinion to Seifert v. Bland (1989), Ind.App., 546 N.E.2d 1242 allowing a jury to consider the loss of the quality and enjoyment of life as a separate element of damages, (as was done in this case), or coupling the loss of the quality and enjoyment of life with the pain and suffering element, is an invitation for double recovery.
Accordingly, I advocate coupling the loss of the quality and enjoyment of life with the nature and extent of the injury. This allows the jury to consider the loss of the quality and enjoyment of life but prevents a double consideration, and hence, a double recovery.