Opinion ID: 1777366
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: damages for wrongful death

Text: American Motors argues that no action for wrongful death has been stated because the avowed purpose of Title 7, § 123, is punitive, and it would be wrong to apply it and punish the defendant who has committed no wrongful act. We simply hold that the wrongful act within the meaning of the statute is placing an unreasonably dangerous product on the market. Admittedly, if the retailer here were a party to the instant suit and if the Restatement's pure no-fault concept were applied, the exclusively punitive purpose of our wrongful death statute would indeed be frustrating. Not so, however, under the retention of culpability causally related in fact between the conduct of the defendant and the defective condition of the product. Damages are to be awarded that will punish the tortfeasor for the act and deter him and others from similar future conduct. Pointing out the difficulty a jury might have in determining the amount of damages is confusing the purpose of the award with its measurement. That task should be no more difficult in this case than in any other death case.