[Makarov]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I agree that the adjective should not really matter. As much as I think I might like to see the most heinous people in society (child killers, rapists, etc.) strung up by the balls, I'm not sure what it accomplishes, other than moving the needle down for the entire society.


It's a weird thing to get into quantifying compensation for something like torture. I'm not sure that there is ever a dollar figure that really makes sense. Then again, I don't know what a good alternative really is, either.

In this case, it feels a little off. I wonder if we aren't depriving Khadr from ever living a 'normal' life by dropping a dumptruck of money on him. Lots of lottery winners* end up depressed and broke within a few years of winning.

*Not saying Khadr won a lottery, but the sudden windfall is a similar situation. People start hounding you for money. Cheap wine doesn't taste is good anymore...but you quickly realize that you can't afford $100 bottles every night for life, etc.


If I had to come up with something, it would be $100k/year for life. Enough to live a very comfortable life, but not so much to kill any ambition to do more. I think his life will even be better if he had to live in a [nice] condo for a few years while in school, and save up to move into a house. Even driving a [nice, new] Toyota for five years makes you actually appreciate upgrading to Lexus.

His bank account may be full, but I worry his life will become even more empty.

That seems a rather paternalistic approach to damages. And do you think that it should be applied in other types of claims?