Opinion ID: 2828146
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Delayed Accrual

Text: To determine whether a statute of limitation bars recovery, it is necessary to establish when the cause of action accrued. Jepson v. Stubbs, 555 S.W.2d 307, 311 (Mo. banc 1977). A cause of action accrues, and the limitation period begins to run, when the right to sue arises. Hunter v. Hunter, 237 S.W.2d 100, 103 (Mo. 1951). Frazee held that a wrongful death claim accrues at death. This has long been the rule in Missouri. See Coover v. Moore, 31 Mo. 574, 576 (Mo. 1862); Cummins v. Kansas City Pub. Serv. Co., 66 S.W.2d 920, 929 (Mo. banc 1933); Nelms v. Bright, 299 S.W.2d 483, 487 (Mo. banc 1957). That rule is now reaffirmed. The language of section 537.100 is unambiguous, 4 The plaintiffs argue that Howell controls this case. However, Howell is distinguishable. There, the plaintiffs were not aware they had a wrongful death claim because they could not be certain that a death had occurred due to the defendant’s fraudulent concealment and the statutory presumption of life. Howell, 844 S.W.2d at 46. Here, by contrast, the plaintiffs had knowledge of their decedents’ deaths; they lacked knowledge of the hospital’s wrongful conduct regarding treatment of their decedents. The cases are inapposite, and Howell does not control. 11 and this Court’s precedent is clear: the plaintiffs’ claims accrued at the decedents’ deaths, and section 537.100 does not provide for delayed accrual under these circumstances.