Amputee Awarded $17 Million–Scratch That $7 Million

Attorney, Jonathan LeBlanc of Dallas Personal Injury Law Blog recently posted several awards which have been handed down recently.  In an amputation case in Dallas County a man who lost all four limbs in a medical malpractice case was awarded $17,724,650.  A cap on non-economic damages will reduce the recovery to just under $7 million.  This is just one more example to support what I stated previously regarding the sensational headlines and media misrepresentation.

This man has lost all four limbs.  The medical care alone will be astronomical not to mention the major changes in his life and the life of his loved ones.  Money will never bring back his limbs.  While it sounds incredible that he might have been awarded $17 Million, when the reality that the pain and suffering portion was automatically reduced it isn’t so incredible.  It is a bit sad if you ask me.  I wonder if the newspapers will share the reduced figure in their headlines.  I bet not.

What do you think?  Should there be a cap on non-economic damages?  Do you think the media will ever note the reduction in award?