Opinion ID: 1854908
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prior Statutory Actions Involving a Death by Wrongful Act

Text: Prior to the enactment of the statutory provisions now under attack, the statutes pertaining to negligent death cases were the subject of considerable litigation and judicial construction. E.g., Stokes v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, 213 So.2d 695 (Fla. 1968); Sinclair Refining Co. v. Butler, 190 So.2d 313 (Fla. 1966). Under these prior statutory provisions, two separate and independent causes of action could be brought for a negligently caused death. Ake v. Birnbaum, 156 Fla. 735, 25 So.2d 213 (1946); Epps v. Railway Express Agency, 40 So.2d 131 (Fla. 1949); Shiver v. Sessions, 80 So.2d 905 (Fla. 1955); Parker v. City of Jacksonville, 82 So.2d 131 (Fla. 1955). First, the administrator of a decedent's estate could maintain a survival action on behalf of the deceased under Section 46.021, Florida Statutes. The elements of damage recoverable under this statutory provision were the decedent's pain and suffering, [2] medical expenses, [3] loss of earnings between the time of the accident and his death, [4] and funeral expenses. [5] Punitive damages were also recoverable under this statute. [6] Second, a widow, a widower, a surviving child, a dependent, or an administrator could maintain a wrongful death action under the prior provisions of Chapter 768, Florida Statutes. The elements of damages recoverable under these prior wrongful death statutory provisions were: A widow's claim for loss of support, future estate, comfort, companionship, protection, and marital relations, together with the loss of services in taking care of the family [7] and loss of support for the minor children; [8] a widower's claim for loss of his wife's consortium and services; [9] a child's claim for the loss of support, care, comfort, companionship, protection, education, and moral training of his parent or parents; [10] a dependent's claim for loss of support from the decedent; [11] the parents' claim for loss of services of their child and for their respective pain and suffering; [12] and the personal representative's claim by separate action for loss of future estate. [13] See generally Sections 768.01-768.03, Florida Statutes (1971); Florida Civil Practice Damages Manual, § IV (1967-1968).