"DID YOU KNOW....

Compensatory Damages are intended to compensate for injuries or death. Compensation means "to balance the scales"—to match the amount of money with each of the harms and losses that the injury has caused. Losses form injury may include the past, present and future loss of earnings, past and future medical expenses; long or short term mental disabilities, such as injuries to the brain resulting in loss of IQ, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, attention problems, hyperactivity; long or short term physical disabilities, such as paralysis, fractures, burns, cancer; disfigurement; the loss of capacity to enjoy life, lost opportunity, an increased risk of harm, and the pain, suffering, and mental anguish caused by these losses and the injury that was suffered."

"DID YOU KNOW....

Punitive Damages are included in a Jury Verdict to deter the responsible defendant and others from continuing or repeating similar wrongful conduct in the future. They are designed to punish for the great risk of potential harm caused by the defendant’s actions. In Missouri, 50% of the net verdict for Punitive Damages goes directly to the Missouri Victims Compensation Fund with the other half going to the plaintiff. The plaintiff’s portion is taxable income."