Koskela v. Martin

414 N.E.2d 1148, 91 Ill. App. 3d 568, 47 Ill. Dec. 32, 1980 Ill. App. LEXIS 4068
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 5, 1980
Docket79-921
StatusPublished
Cited by42 cases

This text of 414 N.E.2d 1148 (Koskela v. Martin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Koskela v. Martin, 414 N.E.2d 1148, 91 Ill. App. 3d 568, 47 Ill. Dec. 32, 1980 Ill. App. LEXIS 4068 (Ill. Ct. App. 1980).

Opinion

Mr. JUSTICE WILSON

delivered the opinion of the court:

This is a multicount action by plaintiffs against defendants for damages arising from the alleged negligent operation of defendant’s truck which struck and collided with a vehicle driven by Gerald Koskela and caused serious injuries to him. Count III of the second amended complaint, brought by LeAnn Koskela, was dismissed upon motion of defendants for failure to state a cause of action. The issues on appeal are: (1) whether plaintiff LeAnn, the handicapped child of Gerald Koskela, can maintain a cause of action for loss of services, companionship, society and affection against defendants who allegedly negligently injured her father; and (2) whether article 1, section 12 of the 1970 Illinois Constitution mandates the creation of a child’s loss of consortium action. We affirm the trial court, holding that count III does not properly state a cause of action.

LeAnn Koskela, through her mother and next friend, Kathleen Koskela, seeks damages against Fred D. Martin and Laseka Disposal Company (defendants) alleging negligence and serious injuries to her father, Gerald Koskela, as a result of an automobile-garbage truck accident. The complaint alleges that plaintiff LeAnn is suffering from autism which renders her unable to speak, understand what she hears or care for her own personal needs. It further claims that this disorder cannot be cured without special education, and that LeAnn was attending such a special school. This education was disrupted and discontinued after the accident where her father was seriously and permanently injured and hospitalized, rendering him unable to drive her to school. The complaint alleges that Gerald Koskela suffered contusions, lacerations, broken bones, aggravation to pre-existing ailments, all of which are permanent and will keep him from attending to his ordinary duties and affairs. Additionally, the complaint alleges that LeAnn was uniquely dependent on her father for personal care and supervision because of her autistic condition and the ill health of her mother, who has been frequently hospitalized since the date of the accident. As such, LeAnn will be deprived of the personal care and attention she needs because her father’s disabilities prevent him from attending to her. Moreover, since her education has been disrupted, she will be permanently harmed and her condition will deteriorate and not improve. Further, as a result of injuries to her father due to defendants’ negligence, LeAnn will be deprived of his affection, society, and companionship and will be hindered and prevented from attending to her education and other affairs.

Opinion

Plaintiff contends that she has properly stated a cause of action against defendants who have allegedly negligently injured her father in an accident causing an indirect injury to her for lost society, services and companionship. We disagree. Before considering this issue, it is appropriate to briefly review the development of the concept regarding loss of services in the family relationship.

Recognition of the loss of services in the family relationship has evolved since common law where only the husband could sue for injuries inflicted on his family. (See Patelski v. Snyder (1913) 179 Ill. App. 24, where it was decided that a wife has no right of action against persons who injured her husband for her loss.) The court’s rationale in this case was that the husband had the duty of supporting his family and, therefore, only he could be compensated for injuries which prevented him from meeting his obligations. The wife was considered the husband’s servant, and as his servant she could not sue for loss of services of her master.

Illinois now recognizes a wife’s loss of consortium. See Dini v. Naiditch (1960), 20 Ill. 2d 406, 170 N.E.2d 881, where our supreme court decided that the reasons which heretofore prevented a wife from suing for her loss due to the negligent injury of her husband no longer existed. The court declared that she was no longer his chattel but his “equal in the eyes of the law.” (20 Ill. 2d 406, 429, 170 N.E.2d 881, 892.) Dini further stated that the basic reason for granting relief was “protection of the family, as the unit upon which our society is founded. This approach, moreover, is in accord with the entire movement of the law toward protecting familial interests ” e * .” 20 Ill. 2d 406, 430, 170 N.E.2d 881, 892.

Children are allowed to be the parties in interest in wrongful death actions (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 70, par. 2.) In Wilbon v. D. F. Bast Co. (1977), 48 Ill. App. 3d 98, 365 N.E.2d 498, aff'd (1978), 73 Ill. 2d 58, 382 N.E.2d 784, we stated that the children whose father had died as a result of defendant’s negligent acts were deprived of his support and affection and had a valid claim for same against the defendant. We further stated that:

“[I]t is the public policy of this State that minors must be protected by the courts and it is the duty of the court to protect all of the rights of minors who are participants in litigation.” (48 Ill. App. 3d 98, 102, 365 N.E.2d 498, 500.)

This trend in the family relationship’s doctrine is further illuminated by recognition of a child’s cause of action in an alienation of affections suit first recognized in Johnson v. Luhman (1947), 330 Ill. App. 598, 71 N.E.2d 810. Our reasoning in this case was that the policy justifications which allowed a spouse to bring an alienation of affections action should also allow a child this same right. The alienation of affections act was enacted shortly after this decision (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 40, par. 1901 et seq.), and there was no distinction drawn between actions brought by spouses and those brought by children. Rudnick v. Vokaty (1980), 84 Ill. App. 3d 1003, 406 N.E.2d 105.

The trend in this State indicates the law is expanding with the times as a result of both statutory and judicial developments. It would appear that members of the family have an interest and a legal right to protect the family relationship. As such, we are aware that we must be alert to the trend that appears to be widening the circle of justice to all these family members who have valid claims. However, not every loss can be made compensable, and we must locate the line where liability terminates.

The claim in this action which-asks us to recognize LeAnn’s loss of society and companionship of her father due to his allegedly serious injuries creates a new cause of action beyond our judicially created remedy in Dini. This action, like the wrongful death and the alienation of affections actions, would best be provided by the legislature so that all aspects are considered and protected.

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Bluebook (online)
414 N.E.2d 1148, 91 Ill. App. 3d 568, 47 Ill. Dec. 32, 1980 Ill. App. LEXIS 4068, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/koskela-v-martin-illappct-1980.