Southern Life Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan

4 Citing cases

  1. Brown v. Matthews Mortuary, Inc.

    118 Idaho 830 (Idaho 1990)   Cited 47 times
    Holding “ that an exception to the general rule involving damages for mental distress * * * exists in Idaho for cases involving mishandling of decedents' bodies and remains” and “ plaintiff entitled to recover need not manifest any accompanying physical injuries in order to recover for emotional distress in this particular type of case”

    22A Am.Jur.2d Dead Bodies § 86, p. 56 (1988); Vogelaar v. United States, 665 F. Supp. 1295 (E.D.Mich. 1987); Whitehair v. Highland Memory Gardens, Inc., 327 S.E.2d 438 (W.Va. 1985); Dumouchelle v. Duke University, 69 N.C. App. 471, 317 S.E.2d 100 (1984); Simpkins v. Lumbermens Mut. Casualty Co., 200 S.C. 228, 20 S.E.2d 733 (1942); Steagall v. Doctors Hospital, 171 F.2d 352 (D.C. 1948); Southern Life Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan, 21 Ala. App. 5, 105 So. 161 (1925); Edwards v. Franke, 364 P.2d 60 (Alaska 1961); Pettigrew v. Pettigrew, 207 Pa. 313, 56 A. 878 (1904). But see Restatement (Second) of Torts § 868, comment g. Therefore, absent physical injury manifesting emotional distress, we hold that only the spouse, or next surviving kin, may bring a cause of action pursuant to this exception.

  2. Whitehair v. Highland Memory Gardens, Inc.

    174 W. Va. 458 (W. Va. 1985)   Cited 34 times
    Holding that " cause of action for negligent or intentional mishandling of a dead body does not require a showing of physical injury or pecuniary loss"

    Restatement (Second) of Torts § 868 (1979); Annot., 48 A.L.R.3d 240, 245 (1973); Annot., 48 A.L.R.3d 261, 264 (1973); see Dumouchelle v. Duke University, 69 N.C. App. 471, 317 S.E.2d 100 (1984); Simpkins v. Lumbermens Mut. Casualty Co., 200 S.C. 288, 20 S.E.2d 733 (1942). This is usually the surviving spouse, Steagall v. Doctors Hospital, 171 F.2d 352 (D.C. 1948); Southern Life Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan, 21 Ala. App. 5, 105 So. 161 (1925); Edwards v. Franke, 364 P.2d 60 (Alaska 1961); Pollard v. Phelps, 56 Ga. App. 408, 193 S.E. 102 (1937); Finn v. City of New York, 70 Misc.2d 947, 335 N.Y.S.2d 516 (1972), reversed on other grounds, 76 Misc.2d 388, 350 N.Y.S.2d 552 (1973); Apostle v. Pappas, 154 Misc. 497, 277 N.Y.S. 400 (1935); Pettigrew v. Pettigrew, 207 Pa. 313, 56 A. 878 (1904); Annot., 48 A.L.R.3d 240, 243 (1973), provided that he or she was living with the decedent at the time of death, Southern Life Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan, supra; Steagall v. Doctors Hospital, supra; Teasley v. Thompson, 204 Ark. 959, 165 S.W.2d 940 (1942), and has not waived his or her right. Southern Life Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan, supra; Teasley v. Thompson, supra; Apostle v. Pappas, supra; Gostkowski v. Roman Catholic Church of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, supra. If the spouse is deceased, the cause of action passes to the next of kin, in order of relation established by the statute governing intestate succession. Teasley v. Thompson

  3. Arnold v. Spears

    217 Miss. 209 (Miss. 1953)   Cited 13 times
    In Arnold v. Spears, 217 Miss. 209, 63 So.2d 850, suggestion of error dismissed, 65 So.2d 296 (1953), the Mississippi Supreme Court announced that state's recognition of a legal right to possession of a dead body for burial and the propriety of a suit for damages based on unlawful interference with such right.

    Cited the following: Jefferson County Burial Society v. Scott, 147 So. 634; Kirksey v. Jernigan, 45 So.2d 188; Southern Life and Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan, 105 So. 161; Wright v. Hollywood Cemetery Corp., 112 Ga. 884, 52 L.R.A. 621. McGEHEE, C.J.

  4. Chaney v. Ala West-AL, LLC

    22 So. 3d 488 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009)   Cited 12 times
    Recognizing that a two year statute of limitation applies to claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and tort of outrage

    The plaintiff, being the nearest relative present, is a proper party to bring the action in tort, irrespective of any other possible theory of recovery. Southern Life Health Ins. Co. v. Morgan, 21 Ala.App. 5, 105 So. 161, cert. denied, 213 Ala. 413, 105 So. 168 (1925). Appellees allege, as another ground for affirmance, however, that [the plaintiff]'s non-trespass claim is barred by the applicable one year statute of limitations. . . .