What is the proper measure of damages for each surviving family member in a wrongful death lawsuit?
The calculation of monetary damages for each statutory beneficiary in a wrongful death lawsuit is extremely subjective in nature and varies tremendously from case to case. Factors that a jury may consider in assessing these damages include: the nature of the relationship between the family member and the loved one, the severity of pain, grief, sorrow, stress and mental anguish that the family member has and will continue to endure in the future, the value of income and services that the family member has lost and will continue to lose as a result of the death of the loved one, the reasonable expenses of funeral and burial, and the reasonable expense of necessary medical care for the injuries that resulted in the demise of the loved one. Our system of justice cannot return the life of a person to his or her family. Unfortunately, our system of justice can only use monetary compensation as a method to provide some solace to those who have suffered a loss. The discussion above necessarily
