Davenport v. . Patrick

44 S.E.2d 203, 227 N.C. 686, 1947 N.C. LEXIS 517

Opinion

PlaiNtiff’s Appeal.

Denny, J.

The plaintiff excepts to an order of tbe court below, allowing the defendant to amend his answer to show the relationship of the parties and to plead the wrongful conduct of the defendant as alleged by the plaintiff, as a bar to any recovery in this action.

In view of the stipulations entered 'into by the parties, the exception is rendered feckless.

The real question posed on plaintiff’s appeal is simply this: Where the death of a wife was caused by the negligence of her husband, there being no issue of the marriage, can the administrator of the deceased wife recover from the husband for her wrongful death ?

The plaintiff contends that what, disposition may be made of the recovery in this action, has no bearing or limitation on the right of the plaintiff to maintain the action, as provided in G. S., 28-173, and cites Warner v. R. R., 94 N. C., 250. In that case a nonsuit was entered because the complaint did not allege that the intestate had next of kin. The Court said, in discussing this statute: “It seems that its purpose is to give the action for the recovery of damages in the case provided, without reference to who may become the beneficiaries, excluding creditors and legatees. . . . Nothing appearing to the contrary, the presumption was that the intestate left next-of-kin surviving him, and whoever insisted upon the contrary was bound to aver and prove the fact. University v. Harrison, 90 N. C., 385; Harvey v. Thornton, 14 Ill., 217; Lawson on Presumptive Ev., 198. And as the next-of-kin generally, in the order prescribed, would take the damages recoverable, it was for this reason not necessary to allege that the intestate had next-of-kin. If he had not, and this fact could avail the defendant, it should have pleaded and proven it as matter of defense.”

We concede that ordinarily the courts are not concerned as to how or to what particular person or persons a recovery in an action for wrongful death will be distributed, — that is, the courts have no favorites among distributees. But where it is made to appear that the beneficiary of the action was responsible for the death of plaintiff’s intestate, another principle of law intervenes.

The courts will look beyond the nominal party whose name appears on the record as plaintiff and consider the legal questions raised as they may affect the real party or parties in interest. The real party in interest in this action is not the administrator, but the beneficiary under the statute for whom the recovery is sought. Harrison v. Carter, 226 N. C., 36, 36 S. E. (2d), 700; Pearson v. Stores Corp., 219 N. C., 717, 14 S. E. (2d), 811; Brown v. R. R., 202 N. C., 256, 162 S. E., 613; Holmes v. Wharton, 194 N. C., 470, 140 S. E., 93; Avery v. Brantley, 191 N. C., 396, 131 S. E., 721; Vaughan’s Admr. v. Lawrence & N. R. Co., 297 Ky., 309, 179 S. W. (2d), 441; Robinson’s Adm’r v. Robinson, 188 Ky., 49, 220 S. W., 1074; Dishon's Adm’r v. Dishon’s Adm’r, 187 Ky., 497, 219 S. W., 794. Tbe beneficiary bere is tbe defendant. For all practical purposes be is tbe plaintiff and tbe defendant.

Tbe right to maintain an action for wrongful death is purely statutory. No such right existed at common law, and tbe provisions of tbe statute authorizing tbe institution and maintenance of such an action are no more binding upon tbe courts than tbe provisions of tbe same statute which direct bow the recovery in such action, shall be distributed. Tbe rights of claimants to tbe proceeds recovered in an action for wrongful death, are determined as of tbe time of intestate’s death. Neil v. Wilson, 146 N. C., 242, 59 S. E., 674. And we know of no statutory provision or decision of this Court that would permit a recovery for wrongful death, and then direct tbe distribution of such recovery in a manner other than as directed by tbe statute of distribution. At tbe time of tbe death of plaintiff’s intestate, tbe defendant was and still remains tbe sole beneficiary under tbe law, of her personal estate and of any recovery that might be obtained for her wrongful death. G. S., 28-149 (9).

Public policy in this jurisdiction, buttressed by tbe uniform decisions of this Court, will not permit a wrongdoer to enrich himself as a result of bis own misconduct. Pearson v. Stores Corp., supra; Reid v. Coach Co., 215 N. C., 469, 2 S. E. (2d), 578; Brown v. R. R., 204 N. C., 668, 169 S. E., 419; Goldsmith v. Samet, 201 N. C., 574, 160 S. E., 835; Parker v. Potter, 200 N. C., 348, 157 S. E., 68; Davis v. R. R., 136 N. C., 115, 48 S. E., 591.

In tbe case of Dishon’s Adm’r v. Dishon’s Adm’r, supra, tbe facts were similar to those in tbe instant case, except tbe husband died before tbe institution of tbe action. Therefore we quote tbe opinion at some length. Tbe Court said: “In this case tbe petition discloses tbe fact that Mrs. Dishorn left no children, and therefore under tbe letter of section 241 of tbe Constitution and section 6 of tbe statutes an action is provided, if applicable under such circumstances as we have bere, by which tbe administrator of tbe wife can sue tbe husband or bis estate, not for the benefit of tbe plaintiff, but for tbe benefit of tbe defendant. That is, tbe wrongdoer is both tbe defendant and tbe real plaintiff, tbe net result of which would be, of course, that tbe real parties are not beneficially interested, and tbe only persons who could be benefited by the action would be tbe attorneys and other court officials to tbe extent of the fees to which they might be entitled for services rendered. Does not this unavoidably and necessarily render tbe whole proceeding a moot case ? Certainly tbe time and processes of tbe court are employed only in determining an abstract question of law and fact in which, the parties to the action have no beneficial interest. Surely no one would suggest the possibility that the framers of the Constitution or the members of the Legislature had any such purpose in view when they gave their time and attention to the preparation and adoption of these sections; and we cannot give to them any such effect. So despite the comprehensive language in which the abstract right of action for negligent or wrongful death is established by both the Constitution and the statute, its concrete application is necessarily limited to real controversies between parties adversely interested. Hence the right is not conferred upon the personal representative of the decedent to sue the wrongdoer for the latter’s benefit. It is insisted, however, by counsel for plaintiff that the question of the disposition of any recovery that might be obtained in this action is not here, and it is intimated that when, in a suit to settle the estate of plaintiff’s intestate, that question arises, her collateral kin may contest the right of the husband’s estate to receive the proceeds of the recovery upon the ground that it is against the public policy of the state to permit one to benefit by his own wrong. The Legislature, however, has plenary power to declare the public policy of the state except in so far as it is defined by the Constitution, and, under express constitutional authority, so to do, has provided that the husband in the absence of children shall be the beneficiary of any recovery for the wrongful death of his wife. The terms so providing are as broad as those which provide that a recovery may be had. If we cannot limit the plain, unambiguous terms by which the right to sue is created, neither can we limit the equally plain and unambiguous terms by which the public policy of the state as to who shall be the beneficiary of the suit is declared. We must take both as we find them, and the fact that the public policy as declared destroys the right of action as conferred in so far as this particular plaintiff and this character of action are concerned does not confer upon us the power to declare that the right exists in the absence of a person entitled under the law to exercise same and to confer that right upon someone else.”

In Pearson v. Stores Corp., supra, Winborne, J., in speaking for the Court, said: “The weight of authority and the better view is that the contributory negligence of one parent, even though it bar recovery for his or her benefit, or to the extent of his or her interest in an action by the administrator for the death of a child, will not defeat recovery by or for the benefit of the other parent who is not negligent, but that the amount of the verdict will merely be reduced to the extent of the negligent parent’s share.” Hence, if the plaintiff’s intestate had left a child or children, this action could be maintained for the benefit of such child or children. The recovery, however, would be limited to the pro rata part to which such child or children would be entitled to take under the statute of distribution. Pearson v. Slores Corp., supra; Robinson's Adm’r v. Robinson, supra.

DEFENDANT'S APPEAL.

Tbe defendant is primarily liable under tbe common law and our decisions for tbe burial expenses of bis wife. Bowen v. Daugherty, 168 N. C., 242, 84 S. E., 265. We do not tbink a cause of action exists for tbe recovery of burial expenses in an action for wrongful death separate and apart from tbe right to recover for tbe wrongful death. Tbe statute provides for tbe payment of burial expenses out of “tbe amount recovered in such action.” G. S., 28-173. We tbink it was error to enter judgment against tbe defendant for burial expenses.

Plaintiff’s appeal — Affirmed.

Defendant’s appeal — Beversed.