178 F. 877 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Middle Pennsylvania | 1910
This is an action of trespass for the death of Carmine Di Paolo, which occurred on April 22, 1908, and was caused, as it is charged, by the negligence of the defendants, for whom he was working at Whalen, Bradford county, Pa. The deceased was survived by his widow¡ the plaintiff, Maria Michele Di Paolo, a subject of the king of Italy and a resident of that country, and four minor children, three of whom are living with their mother, the fourth then and now being a resident of Pennsylvania. By Act Pa. April 15, 1851, §19 (P. L. 0?’4), an action is given for the death of a person when caused by unlawful violence or negligence; and by Act Pa. April 20, 1855 (P. L- 309), the persons entitled to recover are the husband, widow, children, or parents of the deceased, the sum recovered going to them in the proportion they would take the personal estate of the
It is said, however, that this is not a suit by the plaintiff as widow, but by her as mother and lawful guardian, under the laws of Italy, of Gioacchino Di Paolo, the minor son, who was a resident of Pennsylvania at the time of his father’s death and continues to remain so, and is therefore entitled, as it is claimed, to the benefit of the statute. But, assuming that a right of action in favor of the child exists, it should have been brought in the name of the child by his next friend, he being the real party (Heft v. McGill, 3 Pa. 256; Morgan v. Potter, 157 U. S. 195, 15 Sup. Ct. 590, 39 L. Ed. 670); which is important in this court, if not in others, as going to the jurisdiction. Woolridge v. McKenna [C. C.] 8 Fed. 650. The plaintiff could not sue as she has done in her own name, even if proceeding in the interest of her son as his legal guardian. It may be that this is amendable, notwithstanding the expiration of the year to which such suits are limited. Van Doren v. Pennsylvania Railroad, 93 Fed. 260, 35 C. C. A. 282; Holmes v. Pennsylvania Railroad, 220 Pa. 1S9, 89 Atl. 597, 123 Am. St. Rep. 685. Granting, however, that this is so, there are other considerations which stand in the way of it.
The right of action is statutory and peculiar, and the statutes by which it is given must be complied- with. If death does not immediately ensue and action is brought by the injured party in his lifetime, it must be continued after his death by his personal representatives; no new suit, being admissible. Birch v. Railway, 165 Pa. 339, 30 Atl. 826; McCafferty v. Pennsylvania Railroad, 193 Pa. 339, 44 Atl. 435, 74 Am. St. Rep. 690. If no such action, however, is brought, the right to sue for the death is vested solely in the widow, if any, or, if not, in the others named in the order they are given. Lehigh Iron Company v. Rupp. 100 Pa. 95; Van Doren v. Penn. R. R., 93 Fed. 260, 35 C. C. A. 282. And, where the widow is disqualified, there is apparently no provision for suit being prosecuted by others. The right of action also is single and indivisible; a recovery being had, if at all, for the whole damages sustained, whoever may be ultimately entitled to them. Taylor’s Estate, 179 Pa. 254, 36 Atl. 230. And, where there is a husband or widow, children are not only not necessary, but not even proper parties, however it may >be necessary to name them in the declaration. Huntingdon & Broadtop Railroad v. Decker, 84 Pa. 419; Haughey v. Pittsburg Railway Co. (No. 2) 210 Pa. 367, 59 Atl. 1112; Black v.
All this being so, it is difficult to see how a suit like the present can be prosecuted. It cannot be by the widow, because of her nonresidence and alienage. Nor can it be by the child, because he must recover, it at all, through the intervention of his mother in her capacity as widow, who unhappily is disqualified. The idea in bringing it seems to be that the case can be treated as though the child, who is resident here, was the only one concerned, the widow and the three minor children, who are with her in Italy, being the same as though nonexistent. But unfortunately for that contention the widow cannot be left out of the question. The right to compensation for the death of a person rises no higher than that of the one who is authorized to sue for it; and, the right to sue being given by the statute to the widow who is living, no other is qualified. The children have no interest except in the damages which she recovers, and only after she has recovered them. There is no severable share which entitles either of them by himself, as here, tt> a direct and separate cause of action. It is true that in Toole v, Jones, 32 Pittsb. Leg. J. (Pa.) 387, a suit was sustained in the name of the wife for the use of the children, after she had settled and released her individual damages. But, if that is to be Jaken as opposed to the views which are here expressed, it is contrary to what was decided in Marsh v. Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad, 204 Pa. 229, 53 Atl. 3001, and is therefore of no authority. In the Marsh Case, also, the widow refused to prosecute, which would seem to present as strong a ground for allowing the child to sue for itself, as where she herself is disqualified; and yet it was held insufficient to do so. Tu whatever light therefore the question is considered no case is stated by the plaintiff in the declaration, and the demurrer is therefore well taken.
Judgment on the demurrer for the defendants.
