Section 1 Introduction

• Library: Damages 2012

Lost earning capacity often constitutes the largest element of special damages in a lawsuit; therefore, every effort should be made to fully develop this element of loss. Further, the jury is required in medical negligence actions to place a specific dollar value on past and future economic losses; therefore, it is clear in those cases precisely what amount the jury allocated to this loss, and there must be evidence in the record to support that allocation. See §§ 538.205–538.305, RSMo 2000 and Supp. 2011; Hobbs v. Harken, 969 S.W.2d 318, 323–25 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998). The following general principles apply when...