Unfortunately, in Simpkins v. Grace Brethren Church of Delaware, 2016-Ohio-8118 the principle of “profit over people” prevailed yet again.   If there was ever a set of facts to declare as unconstitutional the non-economic damages caps of R.C. 2315.18, this was the case. 

              In Simpkins, the plaintiff brought a lawsuit against a church for its pastor’s actions in forcing oral and vaginal intercourse with the plaintiff who, at the time of being raped, was 15 years old.   The jury found that the plaintiff was entitled to $3,651,378.85 in compensatory damages, which included the following: $1,378.85 for past economic damages, $150,000 for future economic damages, $1,500,000 for past noneconomic damages, and $2,000,000 for future noneconomic damages.   

              The trial court, in applying R.C. 2315.18(B)(2), reduced the plaintiff’s noneconomic damages from $3.5 million to $350,000 and, accordingly, entered a judgment in plaintiff’s favor for $500,000; which is $3.1 million dollars less than a jury of her peers awarded her.  So why did the court do that?