Punitive damages: Huguely must reveal trust funds to estate of Yeardley Love
Nearly eight years after a UVA fourth-year died at the hands of her on-again off-again boyfriend a couple of weeks before graduation in 2010, lawyers representing the family of Yeardley Love were back in court February 22, and a judge granted their motion to compel George Huguely to reveal any trust funds to which he’s a beneficiary.
Jeffrey Stedman, who represents the Love family in its $30 million wrongful death lawsuit, said a jury would be less likely to award $350,000 in punitive damages, the maximum Virginia allows, if it would bankrupt Huguely, who was convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2012 and has had “no real job” during that time. “Future income is not relevant unless it can be known with reasonable certainty,” said Stedman.
“We may find ourselves following Mr. Huguely around for 40 years,” he said. “His future income is relevant.”
Huguely comes from a prominent Washington, D.C., area family. His attorney, Matthew Green, argued that under Virginia law, a trust is never a current asset because the beneficiary doesn’t control it, unlike cash or a readily convertible asset. “What guaranteed income he’s going to receive in the next 12 months is a current asset,” said Green.
Read more: http://www.c-ville.com/punitive-damages/#.WpzuDHxG3RY
