Chamberlain v. Parks

692 N.E.2d 1380, 1998 Ind. App. LEXIS 431, 1998 WL 159205

• Court: Indiana Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 6, 1998
• Docket: 48A04-9707-CV-267
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

BAKER, Judge.

Appellants-plaintiffs Paul and Annie Chamberlain, individually and as co-executors of their deceased son’s estate (Chamberlains), appeal the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the appellees-defendants Richard Allen Parks and Complete Auto Transit, Inc. (Complete Auto). Specifically, the Chamberlains make the following allegations: (1) the Wrongful Death Act violates Article 1, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution because it treats financially dependent parents differently than financially independent parents; (2) the trial court erroneously determined that they were not dependent next of kin within the meaning of the Wrongful Death Act; (3) they have a common law cause of action for the wrongful death of their child; and (4) the trial court erroneously granted summary judgment on the claims which they raised as personal representatives of their son’s estate.

FACTS

The facts most favorable to the Chamberlains reveal that on December 7, 1993, their son, James Chamberlain, was traveling on I-69 in Hamilton County when he observed a friend’s disabled vehicle on the roadside. James brought his vehicle to a stop on the berm of the highway and began walking toward his friend’s disabled vehicle. Before reaching his destination, James was struck by a car-carrier which was driven by Richard Parks in the course of his employment with Complete Auto. As a result of the accident, James sustained fatal injuries.

On November 23, 1994, the Chamberlains, individually and as co-executors of their deceased son’s estate, brought an action against Parks and Complete Auto under Indiana’s Wrongful Death Act. In Count I of the Complaint, the Chamberlains, as individuals and as co-executors of the estate, alleged that Complete Auto was responsible for James’ wrongful death due to Parks’ negligent operation of his vehicle. In Count II of the Complaint, the Chamberlains, individually, alleged that they possessed a liberty interest and a continued relationship with their son due to their dependence on him and that they were deprived of this liberty interest due to their son’s wrongful death. After filing an answer wherein Complete Auto and Parks denied all material allegations, they filed a motion for summary judgment on November 20, 1996, arguing that the Chamberlains had failed to establish a viable claim for relief under Indiana’s Wrongful Death Act. The Chamberlains then filed their response and designation of evidence. Following a hearing, the trial court granted the motion for summary judgment. The Chamberlains appeal from this ruling.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

I. Standard Of Review

When reviewing a motion for summary judgment, we apply the same standard as the trial court. Henshilwood v. Hendricks County, 653 N.E.2d 1062, 1065 (Ind.Ct.App.1995), trans. denied. We resolve any doubt as to any fact, or inference to be drawn therefrom, in favor of the non-moving party. Id. Summary judgment should be granted only when the designated evidentiary matter shows that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Ind.Trial Rule 56(C). On appeal, we must determine whether there is a genuine issue of material fact and whether the law has been correctly applied by the trial court. City of Elkhart v. Agenda: Open Government, Inc., 683 N.E.2d 622, 625 (Ind.Ct.App.1997), trans. denied. A fact is material for the purpose of ruling on a motion for summary judgment only when its existence facilitates resolution of any of the issues involved. Havert v. Caldwell, 452 N.E.2d 154, 157 (Ind.1983). Even if there is a conflict in the facts and inferences on some elements of a claim, summary judgment is appropriate when there is no dispute with regard to facts which are dispositive of the litigation. Ford v. Madison-Grant Teachers Association, 675 N.E.2d 734, 736 (Ind.Ct.App.1997), trans. denied. The party appealing the grant of summary judgment has the burden of persuading this court on appeal that the trial court’s ruling was improper. Jordan v. Deery, 609 N.E.2d 1104, 1107 (Ind.1993).

II. Constitutionality Of Wrongful Death Act

The Chamberlains initially argue that the Wrongful Death Act violates Article 1, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution which provides that “the General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens.” Specifically, the Chamberlains claim that because both financially dependent parents and financially independent parents are emotionally dependent upon their children and share love and affection for their deceased child, there is no reasonable basis to treat a dependent parent differently for purposes of recovery for the loss of love, care, and affection under the Wrongful Death Act.

In considering a constitutional challenge to a statute, we presume that the statute is valid, and place the burden upon the party challenging it to clearly overcome the presumption by a contrary showing. Boehm v. Town of St. John, 675 N.E.2d 318, 321 (Ind.1996). The party challenging the constitutionality of a statute based on a purported improper classification must negate every reasonable basis for the classification. Collins v. Day, 644 N.E.2d 72, 81 (Ind.1994). Consequently, all reasonable doubts must be resolved in favor of a statute’s constitutionality. State v. Rendleman, 603 N.E.2d 1333 (Ind.1992).

In Collins, our supreme court identified a two-part test by which to judge the constitutionality of a statute under Article 1, Section 23:

(1) The disparate treatment accorded by the statute must be reasonably related to inherent characteristics which rationally distinguish the unequally treated classes; and

(2) The preferential treatment must be uniformly applicable and equally available to all persons similarly situated.

Id. at 80. The issue of classification is only subject to judicial review where the lines drawn are arbitrary or manifestly unreasonable. Id. at 79; see also Person v. State, 661 N.E.2d 587, 593 (Ind.Ct.App.1996), trans. denied. If any reasonably supposed state of facts could stand as a basis for the classification, such state of facts is assumed to have existed when the statute was enacted. Collins, 644 N.E.2d at 80.

Initially we note that the emotional damages that are recoverable derive not from a parent-child relationship as the Chamberlains contend, but from a dependent-caregiver relationship. Thus, the classification scheme is based upon a party’s dependency on the deceased. Therefore, in order to survive constitutional scrutiny, the disparate treatment must be rationally related to a parent’s dependency.

The purpose of the Wrongful Death Act is to compensate surviving next of kin for pecuniary losses. Ed Wiersma Trucking Co. v. Pfaff, 643 N.E.2d 909, 911-12 (Ind.Ct.App.1994), affirmed and adopted, 678 N.E.2d 110 (Ind.1997). However, the statute was not created to compensate for loss of life. Southlake Limousine and Coach, Inc. v. Brock, 578 N.E.2d 677, 679 (Ind.Ct.App.1991), trans. denied. Such a distinction relates to the purpose of the Wrongful Death Act, because it is only the financially dependent who suffer a pecuniary loss upon the decedent’s death. Although we have permitted dependent next of kin to recover for loss of love, care and affection, we observed that absent the dependency requirement, the Wrongful Death Act would be subject to abuse. See Ed Wiersma Trucking Co., 643 N.E.2d at 912-13. Permitting nondependents to recover under the Wrongful Death Act would allow a host of unknown potential claimants to seek recovery. There is nothing in the Wrongful Death Act permitting recovery for emotional damages by nondependents. Rather, it is the intent and purpose of the legislature to permit recovery only to those who were financially dependent on the decedent.¹ Thus, limiting damages to those who are dependent on the deceased is rational, and the Wrongful Death Act satisfies the first prong of Collins.

The Wrongful Death Act also satisfies the second prong of the Collins test which requires any privileged classification to be open to any and all persons who share the inherent characteristics which distinguish and justify the classification. Collins, 644 N.E.2d at 79. The Wrongful Death Act permits all “dependent next of kin” to avail themselves of the privilege of recovering emotional damages. As a result, both prongs of the Collins test are satisfied. We therefore conclude that the Wrongful Death Act does not violate the Indiana Privileges and Immunities Clause under Article I, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution.

III. Dependency Under Wrongful Death Act

The Chamberlains next argue that the trial court erred by granting Complete Auto’s motion for summary judgment because a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether the Chamberlains are dependent next of kin under the Wrongful Death Act. The Wrongful Death Act provides for damages to the estate of the decedent including “reasonable medical, hospital, funeral and burial expenses, and lost earnings of such deceased person resulting from said wrongful act or omission.” The statute further provides:

That part of the damages which is recovered for reasonable medical, hospital, funeral and burial expense shall inure to the exclusive benefit of the decedent’s estate for the payment thereof. The remainder of the damages, if any, shall ... inure to the exclusive benefit of the widow or widower ... and to the dependent children, if any, or dependent next of kin.

IND.CODE § 34-1-1-2 (emphasis added).

Where dependent next of kin are the beneficial claimants, they must show “a need or necessity for support ... coupled with an actual contribution of such support by the deceased.” Koger v. Reid, 417 N.E.2d 1142, 1144 (Ind.Ct.App.1981), citing New York Cent. R.R. Co. v. Johnson, Admx., 234 Ind. 457, 127 N.E.2d 603 (1955); see also Estate of Miller v. City Of Hammond, 691 N.E.2d 1310, 1312 (Ind.Ct.App.1998). Although the Chamberlains concede that they were not dependent on James for financial support, they nevertheless argue that they are entitled to damages because they depended on James for the personal services he provided to them. For instance, in an affidavit submitted to the trial court, Annie Chamberlain described her dependence upon James as follows:

I often depended on Jimmy for day to day tasks that most people can take for granted, such as getting in and out of chairs, picking up items, carrying groceries and laundry, mop[p]ing, sweeping, and driving me to doctor appointments ...

From time to time, I would have a hard time standing up and it would take a while for my back to straighten so that I could walk and support myself, Jimmy was always there to stand with me and help me with my back.

Jimmy always helped his dad with the maintenance of our home, for instance painting, cutting the grass and removing the snow and as we grew older we depended on his help even more.

R. at 86-87.

In answers to Parks’ interrogatories, the Chamberlains further described their dependence upon James as follows:

Jimmy would help around the house. He would run the sweeper, wash dishes, clean his bed room, mop floors, take the groceries out of the car and into the house, wash our car, iron his clothes, take the laundry upstairs from the basement, wash windows and he cooked when he wanted to.

Jimmy painted the bathroom, helped his dad with the yard work, cut grass, raked up grass and trash, worked on the vehicles with his father and ran errands for us (to the store or wherever it was needed).

R. at 28-29.

As the Chamberlains contend, the performance of services for the beneficial claimants may be sufficient to show that a decedent was contributing to their support. Lustick v. Hall, 403 N.E.2d 1128, 1131 (Ind.Ct.App.1980). However, in Lustick, we observed that:

The deceased was contributing to the support of her children in a tangible and material way ... She was living with the children and providing care, attention and all domestic services on the day of her death_ [T]he deceased was fully responsible for the care of the children.

Id. at 1132 (emphasis added).

Here, the designated evidence shows that James occasionally performed services for his parents. However, he did not contribute to his parents’ support in a tangible and material way so as to satisfy the contribution prong in the test for dependency. Rather, his actions amounted to no more than gifts, donations and acts of generosity expected of a son to whom free housing, most of his board, gasoline money and automobile insurance was provided. Therefore, we cannot say that a reasonable juror could conclude that the Chamberlains were dependent next of kin as defined in the Wrongful Death Act.

TV. Common Law Wrongful Death

The Chamberlains next argue that even if they are precluded from bringing an action under the Wrongful Death Act, they are permitted to maintain a common law cause of action for James’ death. Specifically, they contend that they are not limited to an action under the Wrongful Death Act because Art. 1, Section 12 of the Indiana Constitution² guarantees open access to the courts. Appellant’s Brief at 14.

This court has previously determined that wrongful death actions are purely statutory. Ed Wiersma Trucking Co., 643 N.E.2d at 911. At common law, there was no tort liability for killing a person because actions for personal injury did not survive the death of the injured party. Id. Thus, only damages prescribed by the statute may be recovered. Because the Chamberlains are not dependent next of kin as prescribed under the Wrongful Death Act, they do not have a cause of action under the common law for James’ wrongful death. There is no violation of Article I, Section 12 of the Indiana Constitution.

V. Dismissal Of Claims

Finally, the Chamberlains argue that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Complete Auto on all claims set forth in the complaint, including their claim brought as personal representatives of James’ estate. Specifically, they contend that because Complete Auto did not designate any evidence challenging the 'wrongful death action brought by the estate, it failed to show that it was entitled to summary judgment.

The Wrongful Death Act allows the personal representatives of a decedent’s estate to make a claim for medical, hospital, funeral, burial expenses and lost earnings of the decedent. IND.CODE § 34-1-1-2. This action is separate from a claim made by a dependent next of kin, and the portion of the damages inure to the exclusive benefit of the decedent’s estate. Id.

In the instant case, Complete Auto’s motion for summary judgment asked the court to enter judgment “against Plaintiffs in their capacity as personal representatives on Count I of Plaintiffs’ Complaint.” R. at 9. However, Complete Auto did not designate any evidence to negate the Chamberlains’ claim that James was killed as a result of its employee’s negligent conduct. As a result, Complete Auto did not meet its burden of demonstrating that it was entitled to summary judgment on the Chamberlains’ claim as personal representatives of James’ estate. Therefore, the trial court erred by granting Complete Auto summary judgment on this claim.

CONCLUSION

In light of our resolution of the issues set forth above, we conclude that the Wrongful Death Act does not violate Article 1, Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution and the Chamberlains are not entitled to maintain a common law action for James’ death. We further note that the trial court properly entered summary judgment in Complete Auto’s favor with respect to the claims brought by the Chamberlains as dependent next of kin, but erred in granting summary judgment as to the claims for wrongful death brought as personal representatives of James’ estate. Thus, we remand this cause to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.

NAJAM, J., concurs. RILEY, J., dissents with opinion.

1 . This court will not expand the scope of the Wrongful Death Act by eroding the dependency requirement, as it is the legislature’s responsibility to change that requirement. See Indiana Dep’t Of Revenue v. Callaway's Estate, 232 Ind. 1, 110 N.E.2d 903 (1953).

2 . Article 1, Section 12 provides in relevant part as follows: "All courts shall be open; and every person, for injury done to him in his person, property, or reputation, shall have remedy by due course of law.”