Opinion ID: 1092068
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Gina Gayle Bigelow

Text: Gina Bigelow (Gina), by and through her mother, Carron Bigelow (Bigelow), filed a complaint in which she alleged that her mother's negligent operation of a car resulted in painful and disabling physical and mental injuries and suffering. She demanded a judgment of $300,000. Bigelow filed an Answer on November 8, 1989, denying all the material allegations of the complaint and alleging, affirmatively, that the complaint failed to state a cause of action as she was immune from suit. On the same date, Bigelow filed a Motion to Dismiss averring that the law in Mississippi on parental immunity did not afford Gina any relief. Gina filed an Answer to Motion to Dismiss on November 16, 1989, denying all the allegations in Bigelow's motion. Additionally, in her Brief in Support of Answer to Motion to Dismiss, Gina argued that parental immunity to a tort suit from an unemancipated minor should be abolished as was the concept of interspousal immunity in Burns v. Burns, 518 So.2d 1205 (Miss. 1988). She contended that the allowance of such suit in no way interferes with or strains the relationship between parent and child; instead it provides a means for compensation to the injured child and insures equal treatment for children. On August 26, 1988, a hearing was had on the motions to dismiss filed by Glaskox. During the hearing, defense counsel contended that the cases involved questions of law more appropriate for the legislature or Supreme Court and the Burns decision on which plaintiff's relied was a five-four decision with a strong dissent. Plaintiff's counsel responded that Mississippi got on the wrong track a hundred years ago and without precedent recognized parental immunity from suits brought by unemancipated minors. He stated further that disallowing the suit filed by Heather and Tabatha denies them equal protection and due process of law; additionally, article 3, section 24 of the Mississippi Constitution (1890) which provides for open courts, applies to minors. The court ruled that pursuant to stare decisis it was obliged to follow the doctrine of parental immunity since such immunity had not been abrogated by the Supreme Court. It held that if the law is to be changed, then it is the decision of the Supreme Court or the legislature and until changed, the court was obliged to follow and apply the doctrine of parental immunity and bar these cases. On November 17, 1989, the court held a hearing on Bigelow's motion to dismiss suit filed by her daughter, Gina. For the same reasons that it stated in Glaskox v. Glaskox, the court granted the motion.