Val Robichaud and Thomas Robichaud v. Genevieve Theis

HEANEY, Circuit Judge.

On November 28, 1984, an automobile driven by Genevieve Theis collided with an automobile driven by Val Robichaud just outside of Rapid City, South Dakota. The parties disagree about almost every detail of the accident. A South Dakota jury awarded damages of $444,811.29 to Robi-chaud and $5,000 to Tom Robichaud, her husband.

At the time of the accident, Val Robi-chaud was 31 years old and was employed as a secretary. Following the accident, she complained of stiffness and back and neck pains. Robichaud went to a series of doctors, all of whom, to varying degrees, found…