I have had to take a lot of time off work to take care of the children and my wife. It has substantially affected my life, especially my job. My wife is pursuing a claim against the driver of the other vehicle for her injuries. Just recently the Supreme Court of New Mexico has allowed a spouse to file a loss of consortium claim. Consortium is defined as the right of each spouse to the company, society, co-operation, affection and aid of the other in every conjugal relation.
Loss of consortium is a separate cause of action resulting from the injury to one's spouse.
This past summer my family and I drove out to Washington, D.C. to visit my sister. While driving through West Virginia we were rearended by another driver. He was from Colorado on his summer vacation as well. Jurisdiction refers to the courts authority to hear a case. Jurisdiction is determined by statute as well as common law.