Court Opinion

ID: 9939085
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-09 19:06:32.630248+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:18.706613
License: Public Domain

I concur in the result reached, but I would affirm the lower court on the merits. From the pleadings in this matter it is apparent, in my judgment, that the parties were framing this issue:
 "Can a personal representative of a deceased employee who is survived by no dependents maintain an action under our Homicide Statute, when the employee's death arose out of his employment and there was coverage under the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act?"
I believe that the parties successfully presented this issue by the pleadings, and the briefs on appeal argue the issue as above framed. Therefore, I would affirm the trial court on the basis that a personal representative of a deceased employee who is covered under the Workmen's Compensation Act cannot maintain an action under our Homicide Statute against his employer for the employee's wrongful death. *Page 571 
In death damage cases against employers, our Workmen's Compensation Act is exclusive. DeArman v. Ingalls Iron Works, Inc., 258 Ala. 205, 61 So.2d 764 (1952) (dictum); Patterson v. Sears Roebuck Co., 196 F.2d 947 (5 Cir., 1952); Title 26, § 272, Code of Alabama, 1940 (Recompiled, 1958). This rule is followed in several other states having acts similar to ours. Horney v. Meredith Swimming Pool Co., 267 N.C. 521,148 S.E.2d 554 (1966) and cases there cited.
Appellant contends that in death cases where there are no dependents, the next of kin of a deceased employee are left without a remedy. Under our statutes, this is presently true, but the wisdom of allowing the personal representative of a deceased employee who leaves no dependents to maintain a wrongful death action against the deceased employee's employer is for the Legislature, not for this Court.
COLEMAN, J., concurs.