Richard v. Curtis

After a three-day trial, in which the trial judge and jury had an opportunity to observe Mrs. Richard constantly, the trier of fact concluded that she was permanently disabled and awarded her $21,200. No application was made to the trial judge to reduce the verdict as excessive. Yet this court rediagnoses the causes of Mrs. Richard’s disability, finds her symptoms of pain imaginary and her undoubted loss of wages unnecessary, and reduces the award in half. On the basis of the cold record and thirty minutes of oral argument, we find she was cured five months after the accident, although…