Jose Gonzalez v. United States

COLLOTON, Circuit Judge.

Jose Luis Gonzalez filed suit under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671-2680, alleging that employees of the United States negligently caused significant delay in the proper treatment of leg injuries that he suffered while an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Forrest City, Arkansas. After a two-day bench trial, the district court1 found the government liable and awarded compensatory damages of $813,000. On appeal, the government argues that the amount of damages is excessive. Under the deferential standard of review that applies to an award…