Court Opinion

ID: 9486853
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 12:02:25.680724+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:51:58.450631
License: Public Domain

HARRY T. EDWARDS, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I concur in the judgment affirming the grant of summary judgment for appellees on appellant’s Survival Act claim. However, I would certify to the District of Columbia *200Court of Appeals the question whether a wrongful death claim is time-barred in cases in which the statute of limitations has run on the underlying tort claim, but which are brought within one year of a decedent’s death caused by injuries resulting from the underlying tort. As this court has held, “a federal court should normally decline to speculate on such a question of local doctrine.” Nello L. Teer Co. v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 921 F.2d 300, 301 (D.C.Cir.1990) (brackets and ellipses omitted) (quoting Delahanty v. Hinckley, 845 F.2d 1069, 1070 (D.C.Cir.1988)). The timeliness of appellant’s Wrongful Death Act claim presents a question of first impression in the District of Columbia, is purely a question of local law, and is squarely presented in this ease. Given that there is a great deal of persuasive authority on both sides of this important and potentially recurring issue, see, e.g., Russell v. Ingersoll-Rand Co., 841 S.W.2d 343 (Tex.1992) (collecting extensive authorities on both sides of this question), I do not believe that it is appropriate for this court to speculate as to how the District of Columbia Court of Appeals would decide this ease. Indeed, I have no idea why the majority feels compelled to reach out and decide this question, especially given that appellee’s counsel agreed at oral argument that this case presents a certifiable issue. I would certify the question pursuant to D.C.Code section 11-723.