Court Opinion

ID: 9722923
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 09:55:42.161947+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:42.184131
License: Public Domain

KANE, J.
I concur with the well-reasoned opinion authored by Justice Rouse. I have serious misgivings, however, about the efficacy of permissible joinder to prevent the double recovery problem. While it is, of course, true that the danger of double recovery may be avoided by joinder, this places the burden on the wrong party. Thus, henceforth in every case brought by an injured spouse or on behalf of an injured minor, a defendant will be burdened with the necessity of discovering whether a parent or spouse has filed—or intends to file—an independent action. In some counties where court calendars are current, it is not at all inconceivable that the primary case could be concluded prior to filing of the “consortium” case. Permissive joinder is of no assistance in avoiding the danger of double recovery in that situation.
To prevent the possibility of double recovery the burden should be placed on the party who has the power to prevent it—namely, the parent of the injured child or the noninjured spouse in the Rodriguez situation.
It would be a very simple matter for the Legislature to enact a provision requiring mandatory joinder of spousal and/or parental causes of action with the cause of action asserted by the injured child or spouse.
Such a requirement would impose no hardship on anyone, would promote efficient judicial administration, would be economically advantageous to the litigants, and would insure against the unwholesome risk of double recovery.
Appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied April 24, 1975. Clark, J., did not participate therein.