Roussin v. Blood

There was evidence that the deceased had an expectancy of life of 13.47 years and that his average earnings for the last six months of his life were $28.77 a week, while fulltime pay would have been $29.04. He was in good physical condition and he worked steadily.

In the course of argument, plaintiff’s counsel explained to the jury that in assessing damages they must deduct from the prospective earnings of the deceased what it would have cost him to live. Then he continued.

“Now what figure you gentlemen will decide on of course is up to you. You are twelve reasonable men and you will consider…