Opinion ID: 2639659
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pre-death pain and suffering damages

Text: The borough argues that Isabel, in her capacity as the representative of Alfred's estate, should not have recovered damages for Alfred's pre-death pain and suffering because Alaska does not allow an Estate to recover where there are statutory beneficiaries. It bases this argument on language in the wrongful death statute, which states that the amount recovered under the statute shall be exclusively for the benefit of the decedent's spouse and children ... or other dependents. [8] But the pre-death pain and suffering damages were not recovered under the wrongful death statute, AS 09.55.580; they were recovered under the survival statute, AS 09.55.570. The borough's argument as to this award is therefore without merit. Isabel was both a wrongful death action other dependent and the representative of Alfred's estate. In her latter capacity she was entitled to recover the award for Alfred's pre-death damages. [9] Nothing in the wrongful death statute prevents a person who is a statutory beneficiary under that statute and who recovers wrongful death damages under that statute from also being a personal representative of the decedent's estate or prevents the personal representative from recovering for the decedent's pre-death pain and suffering under the survival statute.