Court Opinion

ID: 9763606
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:50:34.604515+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:46.632366
License: Public Domain

Supplemental Opinion on Motion for Rehearing delivered January 20, 1982 George K. Cracraft, Judge. The appellants in their motion for a rehearing of a portion of our decision of November 25, 1981, contend that we seemingly hold that a settlement of a minor’s tort claim can never become binding, absent approval of the probate court acting pursuant to the procedures set out in Ark. Stat. Ann. § 57-638 (Repl. 1971). By this supplemental opinion we wish to make it clear that we did not intend to imply by the concluding portions of that opinion that circuit courts do not have authority to give judicial approval to settlements reached in those cases pending before them which have been brought by guardian or next friend on behalf of an infant. The authority of such courts to effectively give judicial approval in such cases was reaffirmed in Walker v. Killoren Electric Co., 243 Ark. 752, 421 S.W. 2d 893 (1967). Our holding in this case is limited to the facts which are presented by the record before us. We hold no more than that a parent, acting solely in that capacity, has no power to effectively authorize a settlement of a minor’s tort claim without the approval of a court of proper jurisdiction.