Section 43 Fear of Future Disease

• Library: Damages 2012

As a general rule, a plaintiff cannot recover for a mere increased risk of injury or fear of injury. Pendergist v. Pendergrass, 961 S.W.2d 919 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998) (fear of contracting AIDS without actual evidence of exposure is insufficient to present a cause of action). See generally:

· Mergenthaler v. Asbestos Corp. of Am., 480 A.2d 647 (Del. 1984)

· Bennett v. Mallinckrodt, Inc., 698 S.W.2d 854 (Mo. App. E.D. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1176 (1986)

· Ayers v. Twp. of Jackson, 493 A.2d 1314 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1985), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, 525 A.2d 287 (N.J. 1987)

But see Laxton...