Opinion ID: 1726198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: whether prejudicial error was committed by denying the downtown grill's motion for a directed verdict and/or a peremptory instruction on the individual claims of michael connell and tonia connell (the parents of paul connell)?

Text: ¶ 33. This claim by appellants is based on the denial of a directed verdict on the issue that the parents of Paul Connell in no way suffered damages for the claims of malicious prosecution, libel and slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and gross negligence. The Downtown Grill also requested a peremptory instruction, D-2, as to the individual claims of Michael and Tonia Connell, but that request was also denied. The Downtown Grill also objected to several of plaintiff's instructions which lumped the claims of Michael and Tonia Connell together with the claims of Paul Connell such that the jury was unable to determine which damages were being sought for which causes of action. ¶ 34. The Downtown Grill correctly argues that it is self-evident that no one can state a claim for libel and slander, malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress and/or gross negligence under these facts except Paul Connell. Because all of these causes of action allegedly arose out of Chris Gwin's identification of Paul Connell as the person who gave him the forged check, again it seems self-evident that Michael and Tonia Connell did not have any such claims in their individual capacities. The plaintiffs never discuss the individual claims of Paul's parents beyond being worried about their sonsomething all parents go through. They make no argument that they were libeled and slandered, maliciously prosecuted or treated in a grossly negligent manner. We assume their claim is for intentional infliction of emotional distress. This Court understands that the parents of Paul Connell reacted the same way any parent would upon learning their son has been put into jail. However, we do not conclude that the duties of being a parent entitle Michael and Tonia Connell to any damages for worrying about their son. This Court realizes what a Pandora's Box would be opened if we allowed both parents and their children to recover for alleged wrongs against the children. ¶ 35. We held in Butler v. Chrestman, 264 So.2d 812, 817 (Miss.1972) (quoting Fowler Butane Gas Co. v. Varner, 244 Miss. 130, 156,141 So.2d 226, 236 (1962)), that ... if a minor sustains personal injuries under such circumstances of wilfulness, aggravation, or oppression as to justify an imposition of exemplary or punitive damages, upon the wrongdoer, the right of recovery thereof is in the child, and that there can be no recovery of the item by the parent in his own right. It is also said: ... that the measure of damages in a parent's action for injuries to a minor child, other than a case of seduction, is the actual damage which the plaintiff has suffered... If this Court is unwilling to allow parents to recover damages for the severe personal injury of their child, we certainly will not allow recovery of damages by a parent for the alleged malicious prosecution of one's minor child. The proper plaintiff, therefore, in the case sub judice is Paul Connell and not Michael and Tonia Connell. See also Zucker v. County of Rockland, 111 A.D.2d 325, 489 N.Y.S.2d 308 (N.Y.App.Div.1985) (parents sued a newspaper to recover damages for defamation after an article allegedly defamed their son.) The court in Zucker affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the parents' claim for defamation, reasoning that the parents could not recover against the newspaper for an article which neither mentioned by name nor otherwise identified the parents. Id. at 309. The only way Paul and Tonia Connell became involved in the case now before this Court is through their parental duties. They, in no way, were otherwise involved in the identification and arrest of Paul Connell. ¶ 36. The appellant cites much case law from other jurisdictions on the subject of parents rights to recover for wrongs to their children. In the Ohio case of Lambert v. Garlo, 19 Ohio App.3d 295, 484 N.E.2d 260 (Ohio. Ct.App.1985), the court dismissed the individual claims of the parents and brother of a person who was allegedly defamed since the publication did not concern them. Affirming the trial court's dismissal of the parents' claim for libel, the court concluded: However, plaintiffs [the parents] were not named in the article, no reference, directly or indirectly, was made concerning them or linking them to the situation and the only reasonable conclusion is that the plaintiffs [the parents] were not directly injured by the statements. ... ... to be actionable it must be shown that the libel was published about or concerning them ... or that defendant had the intention of injuring the relative and was aware of the relative's relationship to the person defamed. See, also, 50 American Jurisprudence 2d (1970) 834, Libel and Slander, Section 311. Lambert v. Garlo, 484 N.E.2d at 263. See also Rushing v. Bosse, 652 So.2d 869, 875 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1995) (grandparents who were not subject to the proceeding may not maintain a malicious prosecution claim in their individual capacities); Justice v. Belo Broadcasting Corp., 472 F.Supp. 145, 148 (N.D.Tex.1979) (parents could not maintain an action for defamation where broadcast made no reference to parents who were not identified in any way); Beresky v. Teschner, 64 Ill.App.3d 848, 21 Ill.Dec. 532, 381 N.E.2d 979, 982 (Ill.App.Ct.1978) (parents could not maintain actions for libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy where articles did not refer to parents). ¶ 37. Downtown Grill's motion for a directed verdict, request for a peremptory instruction and/or motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict should have been granted with regard to the individual claims of the parents. Therefore, this case is reversed.