On March 13, 2017, Carlos Fuentes, then 35 years old, was injured when the car he was driving was struck by a vehicle driven by an officer with the Nassau County Police Department. The car Mr. Fuentes was in flipped over three times; the other car burst into flames.

After a trial on liability, the jury found that the police officer was fully at fault and the jury then awarded plaintiff pain and suffering damages in the sum of $1,025,000 ($425,000 past – four years, $600,000 future – 30 years). In Fuentes v. Ingram (2d Dept. 2025), the judgment has been affirmed.
Here are the injury details:
- Left Knee – grade four chondromalacia requiring arthroscopic surgery
- Hip – labral tear
- Spine – herniated discs in neck and back

Plaintiff’s orthopedic surgeon was the sole medical witness to testify. He said that plaintiff’s knee cartilage had been significantly damaged to the point that bone was rubbing against bone and his surgery could not alleviate plaintiff’s symptoms. He opined that plaintiff’s injury is permanent, with restricted range of motion. Plaintiff’s other injuries did not require surgery but his surgeon testified that he has restricted ranges of motion in those areas as well and they too are permanent.
Plaintiff testified that his pain and restricted ranges of motion left him unable to resume his previously very active life that included a heavy labor job, several sports and helping out at home.
The jury awarded (and the appellate court affirmed) damages for spousal loss of services and society in the sum of $85,000 ($35,000 past, $50,000 future – 30 years).
Inside Information:
- in his summation, plaintiff’s attorney asked the jury to award pain and suffering damages in the sum of $425,000 for the past and $375,000 for the future.
- Plaintiff’s wife was employed as a paralegal with plaintiff’s law firm.
- At the time of trial, plaintiff and his wife had been separated for about six months.
- The judge instructed the jury that plaintiff’s life expectancy pursuant to government tables was 34.5 years; the jury instead chose 30 years for its future damages awards.