Court Opinion

ID: 9770489
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 16:06:22.926838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:17.771251
License: Public Domain

HAMBLEN, 'Chief Justice
(dissenting).
I differ with the opinion of the Court only in so far as it affirms that part of the judgment allowing a recovery of funeral expenses. Appellee brought this suit under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. By doing so she avoided the possibility that a finding of contributory negligence on the part of the deceased would defeat her recovery, but limited the effect of such possible finding to mitigation of damages. By her own choice she has made the substantive law of that Act applicable to her cause of action. The Act provides specifically that the only element of damage which can be recovered is the pecuniary loss sustained by the widow and children. Both litigants here agree that funeral expenses are not a recoverable element of damages under the Act. Therefore the theories advanced by appellee to the effect that appellant failed to except to the allegations seeking such recovery, and that the issue was tried by consent, do not support the judgment. Neither does the fact that the Texas Wrongful Death Statute gives a right to such recovery support the judgment. The right of action does not exist at all at common law, but arises only by virtue of statute. Appellee had a choice of statutes under the terms of which she might seek relief. She chose the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. Her recovery is in my opinion limited to those elements of *926damage for which that Act provides a recovery.
In all other respects I concur in the majority opinion.
On Filing of Remittitur
The $15,000 remittitur required by our opinion of February 25, 1954 having been duly filed with the Clerk of this Court, the judgment of the trial court will be reformed and affirmed so as to allow plaintiff recovery of $61,475, together with interest thereon at the legal rate from the date of the trial court judgment until paid. The costs of appeal will be taxed against the appellee.
Reformed and affirmed, Chief Justice HAMBLEN dissenting to that portion of our judgment allowing recovery of funeral expenses.