Opinion ID: 1631892
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Timely Joinder/Substitution.

Text: ¶ 15. Miss. R. Civ. P. 17(a) states in part that: No action shall be dismissed on the ground that it is not prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest until a reasonable time has been allowed after objection for ratification of commencement of the action by, or joinder or substitution of, the real party in interest; and such ratification, joinder or substitution shall have the same effect as if the action had been commenced in the name of the real party in interest. This rule provides for a reasonable time upon objection for joinder of the real party in interest. Wesley first objected to the wrongful death beneficiaries as being the proper party to prosecute a suit for the pain and suffering of Vivian Wheeless on June 21, 2002. The trial court, agreeing that the wrongful death beneficiaries were not the proper parties, granted Wesley's Rule 12(b) motion to dismiss, stating that the only party who could bring such a claim was the Estate of Vivian Wheeless. Thus pursuant to the express language of Miss. R. Civ. P. 12(b) and Miss. R. Civ. P. 15(a), Richardson was entitled to amend her pleadings. [6] Therefore, three days later, Richardson began proceedings to open the Estate of Vivian Wheeless and to be appointed as Administratrix. Less than one month after the trial court granted the Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal on an improper party, Richardson amended the complaint, listing the real party in interest as the Estate of Vivian Wheeless and specifically pleading a survival action. Pursuant to Miss. R. Civ. P. 17, the real party in interest joined the suit within a reasonable time after objection.