As Rush says: "run the numbers"
if we do, we get:
Loss of salary: 3 yrs x 50,000 $/yr = 150,000
Loss of future salary: 25 yrs. x 60,000 = $1,500,000
Loss of Pension: $1,000,000
Loss of Medical benefits: $500,000 (probably low)
Loss of House: $500,000
Out of pocket costs: $150,000
Total of above: $3,800,000
Law designates triple damages: 3 x 3.8 m = 11,400,000
Plus attorney fees and taxes.
$18,000,000 is not too far off, IMHO.
PS Can't wait to see the award after the appeal.
The problem with your numbers.
1) the man is not in a condition that makes him unemployable. 25 years of future salary is an unreasonable expectation. More like 4 years based upon the time that it would take him to retrain in a new field -- degree. 4 X $60,000 = $240,000
2) loss of pention would be loss of contributions to 401K plan. Say $6,000 per year for 8 years (4 for the trial plus 4 for the future loss of employment). That assumes a $1,500 contribution plus $4,500 (~9% contribution of $50,000) total = $48,000
Loss of medical benefits - Full burden of Medical insurance is about $800 per month so lets go with $10,000 per year = $80,000
I'm cool with the $500,000 for the house
Out of pocket costs I assume would cover Atty fees so ok, $150,000
Total of above would be - $ 1,168,000... heck round that to 1,250,000. At 3 times damages (if the police department did not follow the rules of evidence) $ 3,750,000
A wide margin off from the $18 Million