Opinion ID: 1766093
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: individual claim of linda gaylor

Text: The statute relied on by the movant is as follows: 413.140. Actions to be brought within one year.  The following actions shall be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of action accrued: (a) An action for an injury to the person of the plaintiff, or of her husband, his wife, child, ward, apprentice or servant.       (e) An action against a physician, surgeon, dentist or hospital licensed pursuant to KRS Chapter 216 for negligence or malpractice. The primary action of the mother is based on KRS 411.135, which permits recovery by the parent for loss of affection and companionship of a child in a wrongful death action. The alleged wrongful death occurred on March 1, 1982, and the one-year statute of limitations had expired by almost eight months unless tolled by one of the statutory provisions as forwarded by the respondent and cross-movant, Linda Gaylor, individually. The first premise advanced by Linda Gaylor is found in KRS 413.170(1) which tolls the statute in the case of a person of unsound mind. The evidence relating to the mental condition of Linda Gaylor is extremely sparse. In her answer to interrogatories and in a letter filed with the deposition of Dr. Dawson, we learn that Mrs. Gaylor was sent by Dr. Dawson to see a Dr. C. William Briscoe because of her depression and emotional distress. She states that she saw Dr. Briscoe on April 29, 1982, and that his diagnosis was (1) hysteria and (2) secondary effective disorder with depressive syndrome with dysphoric mood and accompanying loss of interest in usual interests, feelings of hopelessness, insomnia and loss of weight. Dysphoric is defined in Schmidt's Attorney's Dictionary of Medicine, Vol. 1, as the feeling of being unwell; a vague but troubling discomfort. Nervous restlessness; the condition of being fidgety. There is no other proof by the respondent, Mrs. Gaylor; there is no deposition by Dr. Briscoe; and there is no evidence from other witnesses which would indicate that Mrs. Gaylor was of such unsound mind as to render her incapable of managing her own affairs. See Stair v. Gilbert, 209 Ky. 243, 272 S.W. 732 (1925). Once the statute of limitations is raised, the burden falls on the complainant to prove such facts as would toll the statute, and there is simply no proof in this record that Mrs. Gaylor was of unsound mind which would so toll the one-year statute of limitations. It is our opinion that the trial court was correct in granting the summary judgment against Linda Gaylor, individually.