Opinion ID: 449688
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ethel Walters

Text: 49 Finally, Mintec asserts that the award to the estate of Ethel Walters, the decedent's mother, is irrational and contrary to law. It argues that because Ethel Walters died prior to the entry of judgment she was not a survivor within the meaning of the wrongful death statute. We find this argument to be without merit. The statute explicitly defines survivors to include the parents of the deceased. More importantly, V.I.Code Ann. tit. 5, Sec. 76(h) provides that 50 [a] survivor's death before final judgment shall limit the survivor's recovery to lost support and services to the date of his death. The personal representative [of the decedent] shall pay the amount to the personal representative of the deceased survivor. 51 Mintec does not contend that Ethel Walters did not survive her son, nor does it allege that she was not financially dependent upon her son prior to his death. Finally, Mintec does not suggest that the award was otherwise excessive. Because we are satisfied that Ethel Walters was a survivor under the Virgin Islands wrongful death statute, we will uphold the award.III. 52 The judgment of the district court in favor of Royston Roy Elmington and Vivien Yvonne Ricketts will be vacated, and the case will be remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The judgment of the district court will be affirmed in all other respects. One-tenth of the costs of this appeal shall be taxed against each of Walters' children; the remainder shall be taxed against Mintec.