On June 16, 2023, the Supreme Court of Texas released the plurality opinion in Sarah Gregory and New Prime, Inc. v. Jaswinder Chohan, et al., __ S.W.3d ___, No. 21-0017, 2023 WL 4035886 (Tex. June 16, 2023).  The Court considered the award of noneconomic damages and the standard applied in reviewing such awards and held that the jury’s discretion to make an award is limited and that noneconomic damages must be supported by evidence of the nature, duration, and severity of the injury to support both the existence and the amount of compensable loss of the type of damages claimed.  Further, unsubstantiated arguments to the jury, such as comparisons of mental anguish to the cost of a fighter jet, a work of art, or miles driven by a defendant’s vehicles, are improper and lack a connection to the actual mental anguish claimed.

Read the full post by maritime attorneys Michael Golemi and Jonas Patzwall on Liskow’s The Energy Law Blog here.

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Photo of Michael A. Golemi Michael A. Golemi

Michael Golemi is a trial and appeals lawyer who focuses on helping Texas and Louisiana marine and energy clients facing disputes involving maritime, casualty, toxic tort, insurance coverage, and products liability disputes. Michael began his practice more than 20 years ago when he…

Michael Golemi is a trial and appeals lawyer who focuses on helping Texas and Louisiana marine and energy clients facing disputes involving maritime, casualty, toxic tort, insurance coverage, and products liability disputes. Michael began his practice more than 20 years ago when he joined Liskow’s Maritime Litigation practice group in New Orleans. In 2004, Michael moved to Texas to establish the firm’s Houston office and lead the firm’s Texas Maritime practice. Michael currently serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and is Head of the Houston Office.

Photo of Jonas S. Patzwall Jonas S. Patzwall

Jonas is a member of the firm’s Maritime, Oilfield, and Insurance practice group in the Houston office. Prior to joining Liskow, Jonas practiced in New York City where he focused on litigating maritime and commercial disputes in court and in arbitration.

Jonas graduated…

Jonas is a member of the firm’s Maritime, Oilfield, and Insurance practice group in the Houston office. Prior to joining Liskow, Jonas practiced in New York City where he focused on litigating maritime and commercial disputes in court and in arbitration.

Jonas graduated from Tulane Law School with a Master of Laws in Admiralty (distinction award) and a Juris Doctor (with Certificate in Maritime Law) in 2020. At Tulane, Jonas was a Harry S. Stiles Scholarship in Maritime Law recipient and Notes and Comments Editor for the Tulane Maritime Law Journal.