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Full-Text Articles in Law
The "Enlightened Barbarity" Of Inclusive Fitness And Wrongful Death: Biological Justifications For An Investment Theory Of Loss In Wycko V. Gnodtke, Ryan Shannon
University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform
Wrongful death laws should permit and encourage courts and juries to consider the survivors' investment in decedents when determining wrongful death damages, given new biological justifications for this theory of loss. The investment theory of damages, which permits an award of damages based on the investment of financial resources relatives make in one another, originated in Michigan's courts in the early 1 960s, but as of present day has been largely abrogated. In the context of modern understandings of evolutionary biology, including kin selection theory and sociobiology, the investment theory of recovery accords with the goals of corrective justice as …
Torts--Wrongful Death--Unborn Child--The Estate Of An Unborn Child Has A Cause Of Action For Wrongful Death--O'Neill V. Morse, Michigan Law Review
Torts--Wrongful Death--Unborn Child--The Estate Of An Unborn Child Has A Cause Of Action For Wrongful Death--O'Neill V. Morse, Michigan Law Review
Michigan Law Review
The attitude of the law toward the unborn child has differed according to the area involved and its underlying concepts and policy. It has been settled en ventre sa mere be to his benefit. Legal recognition was accorded "for the purpose of providing for and protecting the child, in the hope and expectation that it will be born alive and be capable of enjoying those rights which are thus preserved for it in anticipation." In this context, the live-birth requirement is not surprising. The injustice of depriving a posthumous child of an inheritance is apparent only if the child is …
The Unborn Plaintiff, David A. Gordon
The Unborn Plaintiff, David A. Gordon
Michigan Law Review
It is almost twenty-five years since Professor Winfield's article "The Unborn Child" was published. The development of this area of the law during the past quarter century is probably summed up in the distinction between that title and the one to this article.
Evidence - Presumptions - Statutory Presumption Of Due Care In Wrongful Death Action, Francis X. Beytagh Jr.
Evidence - Presumptions - Statutory Presumption Of Due Care In Wrongful Death Action, Francis X. Beytagh Jr.
Michigan Law Review
Consolidation of two actions arising from a multi-vehicle highway accident resulted in verdicts in both causes against appellants. One action was brought against appellants by the administratrix of a deceased driver under a wrongful death statute, and resulted in a verdict for the administratrix because of a statutory presumption of deceased's due care. The other action was a personal injury suit by a third party against appellants and the administratrix as co-defendants, and resulted in a verdict exonerating the deceased driver, despite circumstances raising an inference of his negligence. Appellants' motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and new trial were …
Torts - Wrongful Death - Expected Inheritance As An Element Of Damages, James Cripe
Torts - Wrongful Death - Expected Inheritance As An Element Of Damages, James Cripe
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, the widow of a railroad employee who was killed as the result of the defendant's negligence, instituted this action under the Federal Employers' Liability Act to recover damages for his death. The lower court in awarding a judgment refused to include the plaintiff's expectancy of inheritance in the measure of damages. On appeal, held, reversed. The expectance of an inheritance from the deceased is a pecuniary benefit which the beneficiary of the action might reasonably have received if the deceased had not died of his injuries. Martin v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company, (5th Cir. 1959) 268 …
Admirality - Jurisdiction - Action For Wrongful Death On The High Seas Limited To Admiralty, Robert Knauss S.Ed.
Admirality - Jurisdiction - Action For Wrongful Death On The High Seas Limited To Admiralty, Robert Knauss S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff as widow and administratrix seeks damages from the United States for the alleged wrongful death of her husband on the high seas. Action was brought at law under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Government's motion to dismiss was sustained. There is no common law cause of action for wrongful death on the high seas. The federal Death on the High Seas Act gives a remedy to the representative only "in Admiralty," and thus jurisdiction is lacking at law in the district court. Kunkel v. United States, (S.D. Cal. 1956) 140 F. Supp. 591.
Conflict Of Laws - Torts - Proper Party Plaintiff In Wrongful Death Actions, John M. Webb
Conflict Of Laws - Torts - Proper Party Plaintiff In Wrongful Death Actions, John M. Webb
Michigan Law Review
The purpose of this comment is to examine the differing solutions and determine the vitality of the common law rule in wrongful death actions.
Negligence-Duty Of Care-Liability Of State Mental Hospital For Acts Of A Dangerous Patient After Improper Discharge, Edgar A. Strause S.Ed.
Negligence-Duty Of Care-Liability Of State Mental Hospital For Acts Of A Dangerous Patient After Improper Discharge, Edgar A. Strause S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
One Jones, a mental incompetent, was erroneously released as "recovered" from a state hospital for the criminal insane, after having been transferred there because of his dangerous behavior at a state penal institution. Jones' frequent assaultive behavior at the hospital was not reported in his case history upon which the determination of his recovery was partially based, nor was any inquiry made into the motivation for such conduct. Crowded conditions and an inadequate psychiatric staff were responsible for the improper diagnosis of the patient's condition and his ultimate discharge. Four days after his release he killed four persons. The administratrix …
Torts-Breach Of Duty-Right To Recover For Prenatal Injuries, Patrick J. Ledwidge S.Ed.
Torts-Breach Of Duty-Right To Recover For Prenatal Injuries, Patrick J. Ledwidge S.Ed.
Michigan Law Review
Plaintiff, as administrator, brought an action to recover for the death and conscious suffering of plaintiff's intestate, allegedly injured, while a viable child within her mother's womb, by the tortious act of the defendant. Defendant's demurrer to the declaration was sustained. On appeal, held, affirmed. Neither the infant nor its personal representative has a cause of action for prenatal personal injuries. Bliss v. Passanesi, (Mass. 1950) 95 N.E. (2d) 206.
Conflict Of Laws-Death By Wrongful Act-Recovery Under Foreign Statute, Douglas L. Mann S. Ed.
Conflict Of Laws-Death By Wrongful Act-Recovery Under Foreign Statute, Douglas L. Mann S. Ed.
Michigan Law Review
A was killed in an automobile accident occurring in Illinois. Alleging that defendant wrongfully caused A's death, A's administrator sought recovery in Wisconsin, basing his claim on the Illinois death act. The trial court granted defendant's motion for summary judgment. Held, affirmed, two justices dissenting. The Wisconsin death act allows recovery of damages for wrongful death "provided, that such action shall be brought for a death caused in this state." It follows that maintenance of an action for a death caused in a sister state is against the public policy of Wisconsin. Hughes v. Fetter, 257 …
Infants - Liability For Negligence Between Infants In Same Family, Henry L. Pitts
Infants - Liability For Negligence Between Infants In Same Family, Henry L. Pitts
Michigan Law Review
In an action by the special administrator of the estate of a six-year old minor under a wrongful death statute, the jury found that the automobile collision, in which the deceased child lost his life, was proximately caused by the negligence of decedent's unemancipated seventeen-year-old brother. Since any recovery would go to decedent's parents, the lower court dismissed the complaint. On appeal, held, reversed and remanded with directions to enter judgment in favor of decedent's mother. The upper court ruled that the death statute authorized such a suit by a parent, because it allowed the parent to sue where …