Opinion ID: 2460083
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: did the failure of elizabeth watts to reveal her remarriage constitute a fraud on the court and perjury?

Text: The simple answer to this question is, no. The only claim litigated in this action was Chad's. No recovery was sought for Elizabeth Watts, his next friend and guardian. Just as in a wrongful death action, where the remarriage of the surviving spouse is inadmissible because of the danger of prejudice, the fact that Elizabeth Watts had remarried has no place in this action. Adams v. Davis, Ky.App., 578 S.W.2d 899 (1979). We cannot improve upon the reasoning adopted by Judge Knox and set it forth verbatim: In this case, the issue presented to the jury, once liability had been established, related only to the damages suffered by Chad Watts. No part of the Plaintiffs' claim appears to have been related to damages incurred by Elizabeth Wetzel. [2] Although the Defendants present an argument that they might have been able to argue to the jury that the jury could have considered the factor of a man around the house in determining future care damages for Chad Watts, this Court believes that the damages awarded to the Plaintiffs were categorized as future care costs relating to institutional and medical costs. For that reason, this Court does not believe that it can conclude that, considering the inadmissibility of evidence of Mrs. Wetzel's remarriage based upon the prejudice that evidence would have resulted to Chad Watts, and considering that no item of damages awarded to the Plaintiffs could reasonably be said to be affected by disclosure of Mrs. Wetzel's remarriage, the Defendants have demonstrated prejudice by the nondisclosure of Mrs. Wetzel's remarriage. (Emphasis added.)