Ed Wiersma Trucking Co. v. Pfaff, 73S01-9506-CV-698

Decision Date26 March 1997
Docket NumberNo. 73S01-9506-CV-698,73S01-9506-CV-698
Citation678 N.E.2d 110
PartiesED WIERSMA TRUCKING COMPANY, John Carter, Defendant-Appellant, v. Joanna PFAFF, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Dallis Pfaff, Plaintiff-Appellee, and State of Indiana, Defendant-Appellee.
CourtIndiana Supreme Court

Nana Quay-Smith, Karl L. Mulvaney, Patrick A. Elward, Bingham Summers Welsh & Spilman, Indianapolis, for Defendant-Appellant.

W.F. Conour, Conour Doehrman, Indianapolis, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Indiana Defense, Lawyers Association, Norman T. Funk, Donald D. Levenhagen, Hill Fulwider McDowell Funk & Matthews, Indianapolis, Amicus Curiae.

DICKSON, Justice.

This interlocutory appeal from the denial of a motion for partial summary judgment presents a question of first impression: whether a dependent next-of-kin may recover damages for the loss of acts of love, care, and affection in a wrongful death action. Affirming the trial court, the Court of Appeals held that the wrongful death statute, Indiana Code § 34-1-1-2, allows the recovery of such damages. Wiersma Trucking Co. v. Pfaff, 643 N.E.2d 909 (Ind.Ct.App.1994).

The defendant-appellant seeks transfer, arguing that the Court of Appeals erroneously decided a new question of law and that its opinion contravenes Miller v. Mayberry, 506 N.E.2d 7 (Ind.1987). We grant transfer and hold that the Court of Appeals was correct in its analysis and conclusion, including its determination that Miller, based upon a different statute, is not controlling. Pursuant to Indiana Appellate Rule 11(B)(3), we adopt the opinion of the Court of Appeals.

The trial court is affirmed and this cause is remanded for further proceedings.

SHEPARD, C.J., and SULLIVAN, SELBY and BOEHM, JJ., concur.

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24 cases
  • Durham v. U-HAUL INTERN.
    • United States
    • Indiana Appellate Court
    • 13 Enero 2000
    ... ... See generally Wiersma Trucking v. Pfaff, 643 N.E.2d 909, 911 (Ind.Ct. App.1994) adopted on ... ...
  • Forte v. Connerwood Healthcare, Inc.
    • United States
    • Indiana Appellate Court
    • 14 Diciembre 1998
    ... ... Ed Wiersma Trucking Co. v. Pfaff, 643 N.E.2d 909, 911 (Ind.Ct.App.1994), adopted, 678 ... ...
  • City of Indianapolis v. Taylor
    • United States
    • Indiana Appellate Court
    • 30 Marzo 1999
    ... ... Ed Wiersma Trucking Co. v. Pfaff, 643 N.E.2d 909, 911 (Ind.Ct.App.1994), opinion ... ...
  • Elmer Buchta Trucking, Inc. v. Stanley
    • United States
    • Indiana Supreme Court
    • 26 Marzo 2001
    ...consumption.1 A. Wrongful Death Statute. At common law, there was no liability in tort for the death of another. Ed Wiersma Trucking Co. v. Pfaff, 678 N.E.2d 110 (Ind.1997), adopting, 643 N.E.2d 909, 911 (Ind.Ct.App. 1994). In 1852, the General Assembly passed the predecessor statute to our......
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