Court Opinion

ID: 9791679
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:15:56.261244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:37.873704
License: Public Domain

WATSON, Justice (concurring in part, dissenting in part). While I agree with the majority that substantial damages for the death may be recovered under the statute even though no pecuniary damages result to the beneficiary, I cannot agree that recovery can he had for pain and suffering and medical and hospital expenses for the following reasons: (1) The Act does not authorize such damages. Section 22-20-3, N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp., only provides for consideration of pecuniary injuries resulting from the death to the surviving parties and mitigating or aggravating circumstances attending the wrongful act. (2) Cerrillos Coal Railroad Co. v. Deserant, 9 N.M. 49, 49 P. 807 (1897), the only New Mexico case in point, excludes damages for pain and suffering. I would not disavow it. (3) Our Wrongful Death Act, particularly with the 1961 amendment stating that the cause of action accrues on the date of death, is now clearly a death act rather than a survival act. Compare, Chase v. Fitzgerald, 132 Conn. 461, 45 A.2d 789 (1946); Kling v. Torello, 87 Conn. 301, 87 A. 987 (1913); Connecticut Public Acts, 1903, Ch. 193, §§ 1 and 2; Mitchell v. Akers, 401 S.W.2d 907 (Tex.Civ.App.1966); Texas Stat., Art. 5525, V.A.C.S. (survival), and Art. 4671, V.A.C.S. (death) ; Cummins v. Kansas City Public Service Co., 334 Mo. 672, 66 S.W.2d 920 (1933), where the Missouri statute similar to ours is compared with Lord Campbell’s Act, St. 9 to 10, Viet., the first death act. See Baca v. Baca, 71 N.M. 468, 379 P.2d 765 (1963); State ex rel. DeMoss v. District Court of Sixth Judicial Dist, 55 N.M. 135, 227 P.2d 937 (1951). (4) Reason directs that the legislature would not permit unaccountable recovery by the personal representative for medical and hospital expenses which the executor or administrator must pay.