What damages are recoverable?
The patient should be able to recover damages for past and future medical expenses, past and future wage loss, and past and future pain, suffering and emotional distress, and in an appropriate case punitive damages, i.e. damages aimed at punishing the defendant. The issue of future medical expenses is particularly important in therapist abuse cases, since frequently a therapist abuse victim will require a lifetime of psychotherapy and sometimes long hospitalization. Frequently, the cost of this care will run into the millions of dollars. It is important that plaintiff’s attorney retains an expert who understands this concept and can provide testimony to a jury which will allow for a fair award for future medical expenses.
