Rankin v. McDonnell Douglas Corp.

420 F. Supp. 880, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12900

• Court: District Court, C.D. California
• Decided: October 4, 1976
• Docket: M.D.L. No. 172; Civ. No. 75-667-PH
• Status: Published

Opinion

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR AN ORDER DECREEING THE RIGHT OF COMMON-LAW WIVES TO RECOVER WRONGFUL-DEATH DAMAGES AND ORDER DISMISSING CLAIMS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR WHICH RELIEF CAN BE GRANTED

PEIRSON M. HALL, Senior District Judge.

This matter having come on regularly before the Court; and

Memoranda of points and authorities having been filed by plaintiffs and by defendant McDonnell Douglas Corporation; and

Oral argument having been heard on behalf of and in opposition to the dismissal of the claims of certain plaintiffs in the above entitled action;

The following appears to the Court:

1. The law of California is the law applicable to all issues in the Paris Air Crash cases.

2. The above entitled action is an action for wrongful death under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377.

3. Under California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 377(a) only heirs have standing to sue for wrongful death damages. For purposes of that section, “heirs” include individuals who were “dependent on the decedent” and who are a “putative spouse,” i. e., the “surviving spouse of a void or voidable marriage who is found by the court to have believed in good faith that the marriage to decedent was valid.” California Code of Civil Procedure Section 377(b).

4. The status of “putative spouse” in California requires, inter alia, participation in a marriage ceremony.

5. There is no allegation in the above entitled action that any plaintiff claiming as a “common-law wife” qualifies as a putative spouse within the meaning of said Section 377(b).

6. Therefore, none of the plaintiffs claiming as a common law wife has stated a cause of action for which relief can be granted.

ORDER

THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, good cause appearing, plaintiffs’ motion for an order decreeing the right of common-law wives to recover wrongful death damages be denied for failure to state a cause of action for which relief can be granted under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 12(b)(6) and that the claims of plaintiffs in the above action who are common-law wives be dismissed.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the within order is certified for appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) because the Court is of the opinion that the order involves a controlling question of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and an immediate appeal therefrom may materially advance the ultimate termination of the within litigation.