Opinion ID: 2377626
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Awards to siblings absent evidence of grief

Text: The award of damages was apportioned by the jury among the family members of the decedent. New Prospect argues that the $50,000 awards made to Russell E. Jones and Rebecca McKinney should be reversed because neither testified at the trial and no other witness presented evidence of mental anguish on the part of either of them. We agree. First Commercial argues that we can affirm the two awards, as Act 589 of 1993 (Ark.Code Ann. § 16-62-102 (Supp.1997)) permits recovery by a family member of a decedent for grief normally associated with the loss of a loved one. Our cases decided prior to Act 589 have required something more than normal grief. See Peugh v. Oliger, 233 Ark. 281, 345 S.W.2d 610 (1961), overruled on other grounds, Fountain v. Chicago, R.I. & Pac. Ry., 243 Ark. 947, 422 S.W.2d 878 (1968). We are not concerned here with the extent to which the statute may have changed the law as to the extent to which grief must be demonstrated, but with whether it must be demonstrated to some degree. Absent some such evidence from or on behalf of Ms. McKinney and Mr. Jones, we cannot uphold the judgments in their favor. First Commercial has agreed in its brief that, if Act 589 is not to be interpreted as permitting damages to Mr. Jones and Ms. McKinney in this case, their awards may be remitted. We modify the judgment by removing those awards, thus reducing the total recovery by $100,000. Affirmed as modified.