Opinion ID: 1745422
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Post-majority loss of child care services

Text: The third issue involves whether Rineck is entitled to compensation for the loss of his wife's child care services beyond the child's eighteenth birthday. Rineck argues that Rachel, who has allegedly suffered severe and permanent injuries, will require support and maintenance well beyond her minority. Therefore, Rineck insists that he should be able to recover the value of these services his wife would have provided. [4] We agree with the court of appeals that the amount the jury awarded Rineck for child care services after Rachel reached age eighteen is not recoverable. We recently stated in Marciniak v. Lundborg, 153 Wis. 2d 59, 71, 450 N.W.2d 243 (1990), that the parental duty of support ordinarily ceases at the age of majority. This rule involves a recognition that parents are obligated by law to provide care only through their child's minority. See sec. 49.90(1)(a), Stats. In addition, this rule provides parity with the aforementioned rationale of Theama, which limits a child's loss of society and companionship to the period of minority. We recognize that in certain instances this result may seem harsh. However, we consider the decision as to any change in the limitation on recovery for the support of a child to be a public policy matter uniquely within the province of the legislature. See Steinbarth v. Johannes, 144 Wis. 2d 159, 164, 423 N.W.2d 540, 541 (1988). We emphasize, however, as did the court of appeals, that this is an action brought by the surviving spouse for the death of his wife. The claims relating to Rachel's injuries were bifurcated and therefore we are not reviewing damages awarded to Rachel in her own right for injuries she received as a result of the medical malpractice. Accordingly, nothing in this decision precludes Rachel from recovering damages for the special care she may need beyond the age of majority in her own action based on the defendant's negligence. By the Court. The decision of the court of appeals is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.