Court Opinion

ID: 9743231
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:28:54.036628+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:23:08.501485
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE CLARK, specially concurring: I am pleased that the majority has decided to join the modern trend and allow parents to recover damages for the loss of society in wrongful death actions involving their children. Although I concur in the result, I would like to point out two areas of disagreement with the majority opinion. First, I do not agree with the majority’s application of a setoff for child-rearing expenses. Although some jurisdictions have adopted such a setoff (S. Speiser, Recovery for Wrongful Death sec. 4:25 (2d ed. 1975)), I do not believe that this is an equitable formula to use in computation of damages. In the case at bar, damages were awarded for the loss-of-society count of the complaint. Since plaintiff’s decedent was 17 years old at the time of bis death, a setoff for college tuition and living expenses could substantially reduce the loss-of-society award. Second, I believe that the majority should consider whether the loss-of-society presumption applies to children who have reached the age of majority. I would not limit this opinion to minor children, since I believe the logic embodied in the majority opinion would dictate a similar result if this case involved a 27-year-old rather than a 17-year-old. In the case at bar, plaintiff’s decedent was at a point in his life where his parents could reasonably anticipate receiving advice, companionship and assistance. This presumption is equally valid for adult and minor children. Although I disagree with these two aspects of the majority opinion, I am heartened that the court has decided to extend Elliott v. Willis (1982), 92 Ill. 2d 530, to discard an inequitable distinction that began with English interpretations of Lord Campbell’s Act.