McMurray v. Richard et al

Filing 194

MEMORANDUM ORDER Re: Evidence of past and future economic damages and attorneys' fees and costs. Signed by Judge Peter J. Messitte on 3/26/2024. (ybs, Deputy Clerk)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
6500 CHERRYVVOOD LANE

PETER J. MESSITTE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

GREENBELT,MARYLAND 20770
301-344-0632

MEMORANDUM ORDER

TO:

Counsel for Plaintiff and Defendant Prince George's County

FROM:

Judge Peter J. Messitte

RE:

Evidence of past and future economic damages and attorneys' fees and costs
McMurrav v. Tallant. et al.
Civil No.PJM 20-CV-919

DATE:

March

,2024

This case now moves to the economic damages and attorneys' fees and costs phases.
As the Court indicated to Counsel at the end of the jury trial, it adopts the jury's finding as to the

liability ofPrince George's County as its own.Some measure ofeconomic damages and attorneys'
fees and costs is definitely in order.

There are many potential variables here, so the Court offers some direction to Counsel; especially
as to evidence offuture damages and attorneys' fees and costs.

(1) Assume Ms. McMurray would spend her entire career with the Prince George's County
Police Department, i.e., that she would spend a certain number of years there.
(2) Any calculation of future lost benefits would have to be reduced to present value, taking
into account inflation.

(3) Generally,the calculation should address lost wages; lost benefits such as health insurance;
lost pension benefits (following Plaintiffs retirement at a normal age); lost overtime
opportunities; and any other monetary benefits that might be claimed.
(4) As for lost wages, etc., please address the reasonable possibility (based on historical
experience) of wage increase for a position, whether as corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, or
other position.

(5) As for the rank that Ms. McMurray might hold in the future: Both sides are, of course, free
to offer evidence as to any scenario they might wish to, but the Court is particularly
interested in evidence with respect to two scenarios: