34
356 FEDERAL SUPPLEMENT, 3d SERIES
life expectancy and work life expectancy,
as well as his exceptional talent, academic
success, his attendance at London School
of Economics, and his selection as highly
compensated summer intern at investment
firm. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1605A(c).
27. Damages O59
Payments made or benefits conferred
by collateral sources do not have effect of
reducing recovery against defendant in
tort case. Restatement (Second) of Torts
§ 920A.
28. Assault and Battery O40
When assessing damages under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s (FSIA)
terrorism exception for surviving victims
of terrorist hostilities, baseline assumption
is that persons suffering injuries in terrorist attacks are entitled to $5 million in
damages for their pain and suffering. 28
U.S.C.A. § 1605A(c).
29. Assault and Battery O40
Upward departure from $5 million
baseline for pain and suffering damages in
action under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s (FSIA) terrorism exception
would be warranted in presence of severe
instances of physical and psychological
pain, such as where victims suffered relatively more numerous and severe injuries,
were rendered quadriplegic, including partially lost vision and hearing, or were mistaken for dead, but downward departure
may be warranted in face of minor shrapnel injuries or minor injury from smallarms fire. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1605A(c).
30. Assault and Battery O40
Damages O140.7
Award of $15 million in compensatory
damages for pain and suffering was warranted in action against Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act’s
(FSIA) terrorism exception to recover
damages for American student’s torture,
hostage taking, and extrajudicial killing,
where North Korea detained student for
approximately 17.5 months, he was publicly humiliated as result of his coerced public confession and trial, and there was substantial evidence that student had been
tortured on multiple occasions, ultimately
resulting in severe brain damage and
death. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1605A(c).
31. Death O103(4)
Federal Courts O3642
District court judges have discretion
under Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
(FSIA) to grant solatium awards based on
particular facts of each case, subject to
abuse-of-discretion review for errors of
law, clearly erroneous factual findings, and
faulty reasoning. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1608(e).
32. Death O89
‘‘Solatium’’ is traditionally compensatory damage that belongs to individual heir
personally for injury to feelings and loss of
decedent’s comfort and society.
See publication Words and Phrases
for other judicial constructions and
definitions.
33. Death O89
Solatium award began as remedy for
loss of spouse or parent, but is now understood to include loss of child or a sibling,
as well.
34. Death O89
Mental anguish, bereavement, and
grief resulting from immediate family
member’s death or injury constitutes preponderant element of claim for solatium.
35. Death O95(1)
In determining appropriate amount to
compensate victims’ family members for
emotional distress, court may look to prior
decisions awarding damages for solatium.