Opinion ID: 901024
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Wrongful Death Cause of Action)

Text: [¶ 28.] In every action for wrongful death the jury may give such damages as they may think proportionate to the pecuniary injury resulting from such death to the persons respectively for whose benefit such action will be brought. SDCL 21-5-7. With respect to pecuniary injury, [4] Caz's mother and grandfather first identified what Caz would provide for them. The evidence reflected that Caz was especially close to his grandparents because he lived with them during high school after his mother moved to Aberdeen. The testimony also indicated that Caz planned to attend school. Caz's mother testified that Caz had been accepted to Mitchell Vo-Tech, where he planned to study computer programming. She testified that Caz always told his grandpa and grandma he was going to college, and make a lot of money, and buy them a home. South Dakota law requires that the beneficiaries show that they could `reasonably expect' to receive such benefits. Halvorsen v. Dunlap, 495 F.2d 817, 822 (8thCir.1974) (further citations omitted). [¶ 29.] In addition to the forgoing claim, in a wrongful death action, wherein the decedent was a minor, ... [the] loss of companionship and society, which may be expressed by, but is not limited to, the words `advice,' `assistance' and `protection' are proper elements of damage for [the jury] to consider in reaching their verdict. Anderson v. Lale, 88 S.D. 111, 122-23, 216 N.W.2d 152, 158-59 (1974). This rule also applies in cases regarding the death of an adult child. Halvorsen, 495 F.2d at 821. Caz was eighteen years old at the time of the accident. [¶ 30.] With respect to a loss of companionship and society, Caz's mother testified that Caz was a gentle guy who smiled all the time. She said that he was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he enjoyed bowling and playing football. Despite living in a different city, she maintained a close relationship with Caz, and they talked every day on the computer at 10 o'clock. Caz's grandfather, Larry Welch, also testified that: Caz Welch was myhe was a special grandson. We had him most of his life. And we loved him like a son. Me and him [sic], we went fishing all the time. Hunting. Trapping. We went pheasant hunting. And just seemed like we was [sic] together all the time. And he would help me cut up deer, and I learned [sic] him to skin pheasants, and he would go down and he would work for Kucera's, skin peasants. We went camping together, took Darby with us. Went swimming. Went to the Keyapaha River thousands of times. And I think of him every day. He was just a special boy. Larry Welch also testified about things that he and Caz were planning to do, but had not yet had a chance to do together. He stated that Caz was like a son. And he was a buddy. And I ache for him every day. [¶ 31.] Considering all of the foregoing, there was undisputed evidence of some pecuniary loss. Therefore, in light of Kleins' admission of liability for damages, we believe that the verdict on this cause of action was so disproportionate to the uncontested evidence as to defy common sense and logic. Neison, 653 A.2d at 637. We therefore reverse and remand the wrongful death cause of action against Kleins for a new trial on damages.