Court Opinion

ID: 9567238
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:51:06.185193+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:00:27.647087
License: Public Domain

Thompson, C. J.,
dissenting:
The necessary consequence of the opinion in today’s case is to erase the precondition that an estate exist before special letters of administration may issue. A cause of action for wrongful death is not an “estate” subject to administration. Troyer’s Estate, 48 Nev. 72, 227 P. 1008 (1924). An estate must exist before administration is justified. In re Dickerson’s Estate, 51 Nev. 69, 268 P. 769 (1928). The recovery in a wrongful death case is for the heirs of the decedent who sustained a compensable loss by reason of his death. Estes v. Riggins, 68 Nev. 336, 232 P.2d 843 (1951); See also: Nordyke v. Pastrell, 54 Nev. 98, 7 P.2d 598 (1932); Wells, Inc. v. Shoemake, 64 Nev. 57, 177 P.2d 451 (1947); Jefferson v. Joiner, 75 Nev. 207, 337 P.2d 622 (1962); Bower v. Landa, 78 Nev. 246, 371 P.2d 657 (1963); Porter v. Funkhouser, 79 Nev. 273, 382 P.2d 216 (1963); Barney v. Clark County, 80 Nev. 104, 389 P.2d 392 (1964). The recovery is not subject to administration in the estate proceeding.
The mere fact that NRS 12.090 allows an action for the wrongful death of an adult to be commenced by “his heirs, or his personal representative for the benefit of his heirs,” does not answer the issue presented. I cannot read those words to carry authority to the probate court to appoint an administrator in the absence of an estate to administer. Rather, those words grant an alternative method for instituting suit when the decedent leaves an estate and a personal representative has been appointed. In such case either the heirs or the personal representative of the deceased may commence suit. When no estate is left, only the heirs may maintain the action.
This construction of NRS 12.090 is in harmony with NRS 140.010 providing for the appointment of a special administrator. A portion of that statute reads: “The district judge shall appoint a special administator to collect and take charge of the estate of the deceased, in whatever county or counties the same may be found, and to exercise such other powers as may be necessary to preserve the estate.” Apparently the existence of an estate is a precondition to letters if the quoted words are to be given meaning.
Two California cases support the majority opinion. Ruiz v. Santa Barbara Gas & Electric Co., 128 P. 330 (Cal. 1912); Dominguez v. Galindo, 264 P.2d 213 (Cal.App. 1953). I doubt that the other citations of authority are supportive. In *214re Estate of Milliman, 415 P.2d 877 (Ariz. 1966) involved general letters of administration, and I assume that there existed an estate to be administered, though one cannot determine this from the opinion. Hesler v. Snyder, 422 P.2d 432 (Okla. 1967) concerned the authority of a foreign administratrix to maintain the action, and involves considerations not presented in this case. All other authorities cited by the majority opinion and some not there cited, but found in the respondent’s brief, are inapposite since they involve statutes restricting the prosecution of the cause of action to the personal representative alone. I refer to the following: In re Waits Estate, 146 P.2d 5 (Cal. 1944) involving the Federal Employers Liability Act; Hutchins v. St. Paul, 46 N.W. 79 (Minn. 1890); Findlay v. Chicago, 64 N.W. 732 (Mich. 1895); Bradley v. Missouri, 71 N.W. 282 (Neb. 1897); Missouri v. Lewis, 40 N.W. 401 (Neb. 1888); Richards v. Riverside Ironworks, 49 S.E. 437 (W.Va. 1904); Berry v. Rutland, 154 A. 671 (Vt. 1931); St. Louis v. Smitha, 190 S.W. 237 (Tex. 1916). None dealt with an alternative type statute such as NRS 12.090.
The majority opinion overrules the intendment of Troyer’s Estate, supra, In re Dickerson’s Estate, supra, and places a strained construction upon NRS 12.090 and NRS 140.010 when read together. Full meaning can be accorded each statute without doing violence to either. We should construe them to accomplish that end.
I respectfully dissent.