Kimble v. Bruza

BEER, Judge.

Appellant, Raymond Kimble, sued for wrongful death of his 16-year-old daughter, Susan. The jury returned a verdict for $5,000. By stipulation, judgment was increased by $1,346.38 to cover funeral costs. The sole issue on appeal is whether the jury abused its “much discretion” in awarding only $5,000 general damages.

Mr. and Mrs. Kimble, married in 1956, began to have serious marital problems in 1970. By then, the Kimbles had four daughters, aged 12, 9, 4 and 2. Susan was the second oldest. Mrs. Kimble’s testimony sets that scene:

“Well, as I said, he began to stay out all night.…