Ill. Pattern Jury Instr. (Civil) 31.13

If you find for the plaintiff, then in assessing damages you may consider how long the

[names of widow and/or next of kin] will be likely to sustain pecuniary losses as a result of

[decedent's name]'s death, considering how long [decedent's name] was likely to have lived and

how long [names of widow and/or next of kin] [is] [are] likely to live.

According to a table of mortality in evidence, the life expectancy of a [male] person aged

years is years. That of a [female] person aged years is years [and that of a (male)

person aged _ years is years]. These figures are not conclusive. They are the average life

expectancies of persons who have reached those ages. They may be considered by you in

connection with other evidence relating to the probable life expectancies of the decedent and [his

widow] [and] [his next of kin] including evidence of the decedent's occupation, health, habits and

activities, bearing in mind that some persons live longer and some persons live less than the

average.

In calculating the amount of these pecuniary losses consisting of money, benefits, goods

or services, you must determine their present cash value. “Present cash value” means the sum of

money needed now which, together with what that sum may reasonably be expected to earn in

the future, will equal the amounts of those pecuniary losses at the times in the future when they

will be sustained.

Damages for [loss of sexual relations] [loss of society] [grief, sorrow, and mental

suffering] are not reduced to present cash value.

Instruction and Comment revised June 2021.