Opinion ID: 2185879
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Court's Charge on Causation

Text: We perceive no new ground having been plowed by Hicks or Thomas, both supra. Judge Sobeloff's philosophical paragraph in Hicks, quoted supra and cited in Thomas, created neither a new tort nor an additional basis for determination of damages in an existing tort. Whether it will prove to be an augury of a burgeoning new tort or introduce a new factor for consideration of damages in tort cases producing injury or death are issues for another day in another cause. We do not reach those issues. This is so because it is crystal clear that determination of such questions is impermissible in an action for wrongful death under the Maryland statute. The Maryland statute is in derogation of the common law and as such, should be strictly construed. McKeon v. State, Use of Conrad, 211 Md. 437, 443, 127 A.2d 635, 638 (1956) and cases cited therein. In plain, unambiguous language, the statute provided a cause of action unknown to the common law for the benefit of described beneficiaries against a person whose wrongful act caused the death of another (emphasis added). In such circumstances, there is no room for judicial interpretation. Trimper v. Porter-Hayden, 305 Md. 31, 36, 501 A.2d 446, 449 (1985). The commencement date for the determination of damages allowable to primary beneficiaries under the statute (both pecuniary and for solatium) is the date of the death of their decedent. No damages for injuries and losses sustained by their decedent prior to his death are provided for in the statute. The enlargement of the statute requested by the appellees for recognition of a new tort or for consideration of a new measure of damages cannot be accomplished in the guise of statutory construction. Trimper v. Porter-Hayden, supra, 305 Md. at 36, 501 A.2d at 449. The respective charge to the jury in Thomas, supra, and in the subject case, while couched in different words, both recognize the legal principle that a plaintiff beneficiary in an action under the wrongful death statute must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the conduct of a defendant was negligent and that such negligence was a proximate cause of the death of the decedent. [8] There was no error in the trial court's charge to the jury. The judgment of the Court of Special Appeals is reversed. JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS REVERSED. CASE REMANDED TO THAT COURT WITH DIRECTIONS TO AFFIRM THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY. APPELLEES TO PAY THE COSTS. McAULIFFE, Judge, concurring. I agree that under the particular circumstances of this case the trial judge did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on the theory of loss of a substantial chance of survival. A claim for damages for loss of a substantial possibility of survival is inherently inconsistent with the element of proof of causation of death that is required for the successful maintenance of a wrongful death action. [1] Additionally, as the majority points out, neither the allegation nor the proof supported a claim for loss of a substantial chance of survival in Count I (the survivorship action). I write separately because I am concerned that the majority suggests that we have rejected the concept of a claim for loss of a substantial chance of survival when in fact we hold only that the issue is not presented by this case. I can agree with much of the dictum in the majority opinion  that our earlier cases have not modified the ordinary requirements of burden of proof and causation to accommodate the theory of loss of a substantial chance of survival. As I view it, however, a claim under that theory does not involve the creation of a new tort, but rather involves a redefinition of damages involved in the claim. Traditional principles of law relating to duty, breach, causation, and burden of proof remain the same  what changes is the acceptance of the concept that damages may be recovered for the loss of a chance of survival where that chance is substantial and can be identified and quantified (and thus valued) without resort to conjecture or speculation. I am unwilling to say that neither Hicks v. United States, 368 F.2d 626 (4th Cir.1966), nor Thomas v. Corso, 265 Md. 84, 288 A.2d 379 (1972) suggests a favorable inclination toward a claim for damages resulting from the loss of a substantial chance of survival. Our holding today is simply that these interesting questions must await resolution on another day.