Case Name: Harris, Admx., v. The Rail & River Coal Mining Company
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1913-02-04
Citations: 87 Ohio St. 450
Docket Number: No. 13512
Parties: Harris, Admx., v. The Rail & River Coal Mining Company.
Judges: Shauck, C. J., Donahue, Newman and Wilkin, JJ., concur. •
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, New Service
Volume: 87
Pages: 450–456

Head Matter:
Harris, Admx., v. The Rail & River Coal Mining Company.
Widow and lineal heirs — May maintain- action under Section 972, General Code — For wrongful death — Caused by non-compliance with Mining Act of April 5, 1910 (101 O. L., 52) — Sections 10770 and 10772, General Code, not applicable, when.
1. Under the provisions of Section 972, General Code, the widow and lineal heirs of a person who dies from the result of injuries received by reason of the violation or willful neglect or failure of any owner, lessee or agent of a mine to comply with any of the provisions of the Mining Act, passed April 5, 1910 (101 O. L., 52), are entitled to bring and maintain an action for damages for such wrongful death in their own names.
2. The special provisions of Section 972, General Code, obtain in all cases coming under the terms and provisions of said act, and the general provisions found in Section 10770 and Section 10772 do not apply in such cases.
3. Where the death of the injured person is immediate, no right of action for the benefit of his estate survives to his personal representatives.
(No. 13512
Decided February 4, 1913.)
Error to the Circuit Court of Belmont County.
Mr. James C. Tollman, for plaintiff in error.
Mr. George A. Blackford, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
By the Court.
Section 972 of the General Code, which is a part of the mining act passed by the General Assembly April 5, 1910 (101 O. L., 52), specifically provides a remedy in favor of the widow and lineal heirs of a person whose life has been lost by reason of the violation, willful neglect or failure of any owner, lessee or agent of a mine to comply with the provisions of that act.
The remedy provided by this section is exclusive, and the personal representative of the deceased cannot bring an action for the benefit of the next of kin under the provisions of Section 10770 and Section 10772, where his right to do so is timely challenged, but the action must be brought in the name of the widow and lineal heirs in their own right and for their own benefit.
Judgment affirmed.
Shauck, C. J., Donahue, Newman and Wilkin, JJ., concur. •