Case ID: so2d_893/html/0352-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "JOHNSTONE, Justice. SEE, Justice", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

SCI ALABAMA FUNERAL SERVICES, INC., d/b/a Ridout’s-Brown Service Chapels v. Nell BEAUCHAMP, individually and as executrix of the estate of Minnie Rae Cauthen, deceased; and Myrtice Sryg-ley.
    1012184.
    Supreme Court of Alabama.
    May 21, 2004.
    SCI ALABAMA FUNERAL SERVICES, INC., d/b/a Ridout’s-Brown Service Chapels v. Nell BEAUCHAMP, individually and as executrix of the estate of Minnie Rae Cauthen, deceased; and Myrtice Srygley.
    Ted Taylor, Leah 0. Taylor, and Rhonda P. Chambers of Taylor & Taylor, Birmingham, for appellees.
   JOHNSTONE, Justice.

AFFIRMED. NO OPINION.

See Rule 53(a)(1) and (a)(2)(B) and (F), Ala. R.App. P.

HOUSTON, LYONS, BROWN, HARWOOD, WOODALL, and STUART JJ., concur.

SEE, J., concurs in part and dissents in part.

SEE, Justice

(concurring in part and dissenting in part).

I concur in affirming the judgment of the trial court as to the negligence and the wantonness claims of the plaintiffs, Nell Beauchamp and Myrtice Srygley, and as to the amount of the compensatory damages awarded them. However, I dissent from the affirmance of the trial court’s holding that the conduct of the defendant, SCI Alabama Funeral Services, Inc., satisfies the elements of the tort of outrage. I also dissent from the affirmance of the punitive-damages award, which I consider to be excessive. 
      
       Note from the reporter of decisions: A cross-appeal, case no. 1012229, was filed in this case, styled "Nell Beauchamp, individually and as executrix of the estate of Minnie Rae Cauthen, deceased; and Myrtle Srygley v. SCI Alabama Funeral Services, Inc., d/b/a Rid-out's-Brown Service Chapels.” The judgment in the cross-appeal was also affirmed without opinion on May 21, 2004. That action will appear in a table of decisions without opinions.