George Hawkins suffered an electrical burn when he was 11 years old.The resulting scar was small and
Question:
George Hawkins suffered an electrical burn when he was 11 years old.The resulting scar was small and did not significantly affect the use of the hand.A doctor persuaded George to undergo surgery, emphasizing the social problems that the scarred hand might create.The operation was performed shortly after George's eighteenth birthday.The skin graft was taken from George's chest.There was infection and considerable bleeding.George was hospitalized for three months.The graft covered the thumb and two fingers and soon was matted with hair.Movement of the hand was greatly restricted.The jury awarded George $3,000 (approximately $24,000 in today's dollars).After the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ordered a new trial, the case was settled for $1,400 ($11,200 in today's dollars).George's father took him to specialists in Montreal to see if the appearance of the hand could be improved, but was advised that nothing could be done.Do you believe the damages awarded are reasonable, why or why not?