Case Name: O'NEILL v. MORSE
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1969-12-09
Citations: 20 Mich. App. 679
Docket Number: Docket No. 6,467
Parties: O’NEILL v. MORSE
Judges: Before: Fitzgerald, P. J., and R. B. Burns and Bronson, J. J.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 20
Pages: 679–685

Head Matter:
O’NEILL v. MORSE
Opinion of the Court
Í. Death — Wrongful Death — Unborn Child — Person.
An unborn child, negligently injured and subsequently stillborn, is not a “person” within the meaning of the Michigan wrongful death aet (MCLA § 600.2922).
2. Constitutional Law — Due Process — Equal Protection — Unborn Child.
An unborn child is not a “person” within the meaning of the due process and equal protection articles of the United States Constitution or the Michigan Constitution of 1963 (US Const, Am 14, § 1; Const 1963, art 4, § 2).
Dissenting Opinion
Bronson, J.
3. Constitutional Law — “Persons”.
Indians, aliens, convicted felons, corporations, and labor unions have all been held to be “persons” entitled to the Federal Constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection of the laws (US Const, Ams 1-10,14).
4. Constitutional Law — Children.
Federal Constitutional guarantees apply to children as well as adults (US Const, Ams 1-10,14).
5. Constitutional Law — Children—Unborn Child.
The view that an unborn child may be a “person” for the purpose of some laws but will not be a “person” for the purpose of other laws is inconsistent with the fundamental constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection of the law.
References for Points in Headnotes
[1] 52 Am Jur, Torts § 98.
Action for death of unborn child. 15 ALR3d 992.
[2-7] 16 Am Jur 2d, Constitutional Law §§ 492, 558,
6. Constitutional Law — -Homicide—Unborn Victim.
The concept that one may Mil a human being after his birth and be held responsible under the law but go free after Icilling a Imman being before his birth is a denial of equal protection of law and should not be condoned by any court.
7. Death — Wrongful Death — Constitutional Law — Equal Protection.
The purpose of the Michigan wrongful death act is to make wrongdoers liable for damages when they Mil a person through negligence or negligently inflicted injuries; if the wrongful death act is to' be constitutional, it must apply with equal force to all who are killed as a result of another’s negligence, including an unborn child (MOLA § 600.2922).
Appeal from Saginaw, Fred J. Borchard, J.
Submitted Division 3 November 4, 1969, at Grand Rapids.
(Docket No. 6,467.)
Decided December 9, 1969.
Leave to appeal granted Feburary 18, 1970.
See 383 Mich 767.
Complaint by James O’Neill, administrator of the estate of Baby Boy Pinet, deceased, against Eldon Morse, Bernice Morse and Gary R. Root, for damages under the wrongful death act. Summary judgment for defendants. Plaintiff appeals.
Affirmed.
Gicinelli, Mossner, Majoros, Harrigan & Alexander, for plaintiff.
.Heilman,'Purcell, Tunison & Cline, for defendants Eldon Morse and Bernice Morse.
Smith, Brooker, Harvey & Cook, for defendant Gary R. Root.
Before: Fitzgerald, P. J., and R. B. Burns and Bronson, J. J.

Opinion:
R. B. Burns, J.
Carol Pinet, eight months pregnant, was struck by an automobile driven by defendant Gary E. Eoot after his vehicle had collided with an automobile owned by defendant Eldon Morse and driven by defendant Bernice Morse. As a result of the accident Mrs. Pinet and her unborn child were injured. Subsequently, the child was stillborn. The case was dismissed by the trial court on the ground that an unborn child is not a person within the meaning of the Michigan wrongful death act. MCLA §600.2922 (Stat An 1969 Cum Supp § 27A.2922).
Plaintiff appeals, claiming such an interpretation denies the plaintiff "due process of law" and "equal protection of the law" under the Federal constitution and the Michigan Constitution of 1963.
This question has not been answered by any decisions of the Michigan Supreme Court or the United States Supreme Court. The Michigan Supreme Court in Powers v. City of Troy (1968), 380 Mich 160, held that an unborn child negligently im jured and subsequently stillborn was not a "person" within the meaning of the Michigan wrongful death act. Accordingly, we hold that such an unborn child is not a "person" within the meaning of the "due process" and "equal protection" articles of the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution of 1963.
Affirmed. Costs to appellees.
Fitzgerald, P. J., concurred.
"No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." US Const, Am 14, § 1.
"No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws." Const 3968, art 1, § 2.