Opinion ID: 2417477
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Exclusion of medical expenses

Text: The guardians assert the trial court erred in excluding Emily Jane Golden's medical expenses. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants and barred the guardians from recovering medical expenses for Emily Golden. The trial court concluded the claim for recovery of medical and related expenses incurred during the child's minority is that of her parents only and because the parents failed to assert their claim within two years of the date of the negligent acts, the claims were barred by the statute of limitations. The trial court concluded the child is not given an independent right to recover the cost of the medical treatment. In Parrott v. Mallett, 262 Ark. 525, 558 S.W.2d 152 (1977), this Court noted that in case of injury to a minor child, there are two separate and distinct causes of action: one in favor of the infant for his injuries and one in favor of the parent for losses suffered by the parent. We went on to state, We have not specifically stated that recovery cannot be had in an action on behalf of a minor child for medical expenses incurred and to be incurred during his minority, where he has not paid them and is not liable for them. By an overwhelming weight of authority, it is held that no award for such damages may be made in an action brought on behalf of the child, where the child is unemancipated and not responsible for his own debts and has not paid the bill for such expenses. Thus, the trial court correctly concluded Emily Golden did not have an independent right to recover medical expenses. As to the right of William and Kimberly Golden to recover expenses incurred on account of the injury to Emily Golden, the trial court concluded the statute of limitations barred such an action. Ark.Code Ann. § 16-114-203 (Supp.1995) provides: (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all actions for medical injury shall be commenced within two (2) years after the cause of action accrues. (b) The date of the accrual of the cause of action shall be the date of the wrongful act complained of and no other time. The guardians concede that the last wrongful act complained of occurred in January of 1991. William and Kimberly Golden did not even become parties to the action, and then only as guardians, until the Second Amended Complaint which was filed on February 18, 1993. Thus, the trial court correctly determined that their claims were time barred.