Coleman Powermate, Inc. v. Rheem Manufacturing Company

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2002-IA-02117-SCT
COLEMAN POWERMATE, INC., BRIGGS &
STRATTON CORPORATION AND WAL-MART
STORES, INC.
v.
RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY AS
ASSIGNEE OF THE ESTATE AND WRONGFUL
DEATH BENEFICIARIES OF SARAH JANE KING,
DECEASED
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/6/2002
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. LAMAR PICKARD
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: JEFFERSON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS: ROBERT H. PEDERSEN
JAMES A. BECKER, JR.
ALLEN LAMAR BURRELL
ROY A. SMITH, JR.
KENNETH R. LANG
AMY M. DECKER
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: GREGORY K. DAVIS
GEORGE E. CAIN
DEBORAH McDONALD
EDWARD F. KOHNKE
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - CONTRACT
DISPOSITION: REVERSED AND RENDERED - 08/19/2004
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
COBB, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. This case, which is based on an unusual set of facts, raises an issue of first impression for this Court.
Specifically, does Mississippi’s assignment statute together with Mississippi’s wrongful death statute allow
a defendant tortfeasor to settle with plaintiffs on a wrongful death claim, then bring an action, as assignee
of the plaintiffs’ wrongful death claim, against what would have been a joint tortfeasor had the action been
brought initially by the plaintiffs against both tortfeasors? Most jurisdictions that have tackled the question
of assignability of wrongful death claims have declined to allow the assignment of wrongful death claims,
for various reasons. Based on the facts of this case, we do not reach the question today of whether a
wrongful death may ever be assigned. However, for such a case as this one, where one tortfeasor attempts
to use the Mississippi assignment statute to bring a wrongful death claim as assignee against another
tortfeasor, we hold the wrongful death claim is not assignable.
FACTS
¶2. In February, 1996, as a result of an ice storm, Mrs. Sarah Jane King’s residence was without
power. Her son-in-law had purchased a gasoline powered electrical generator at Wal-Mart owned Sam’s
Club, and brought it to Mrs. King’s house. The generator was made by Coleman Powermate and was
driven by a Briggs & Stratton engine. The generator was in the utility room of Mrs. King’s home and either
Mrs. King or one of her family members1 was filling the generator with gasoline, when gasoline was spilled
onto the floor of the utility room. Fumes from the spilled gasoline ignited, and Mrs. King was severely
injured. She died eleven days later. There is no agreement as to what source may have ignited the spilled
gasoline fumes.
1
It is unclear who poured the gasoline. The original complaint stated that it was Mrs. King; an
amended complaint filed almost two years later stated it was Mrs. King’s son; Rheem’s appeal brief says
it was Mrs. King’s husband.
2
¶3. Litigation proceeded in two stages. Initially, in April, 1997, Mrs. King’s son and administrator of
her estate, Ellis King (King), filed a wrongful death action on behalf of Mrs. King’s wrongful death
beneficiaries2 against Rheem Manufacturing Company, maker of the gas water heater that was also situated
in the utility room, alleging that the heater’s gas pilot light ignited the gasoline vapors and that the water
heater was defective. The water heater had been purchased and installed by Mrs. King’s son-in-law. The
suit also named as defendants Southern Pipe & Supply Company, the seller of the Rheem water heater,
and Syn Inc. and Herring Gas Co, suppliers of natural gas to the King residence. Southern Pipe & Supply,
Syn, Inc. and Herring Gas agreed to a settlement totaling $150,000 and were dismissed with prejudice
from the suit.
¶4. During settlement negotiations, Rheem suggested to King that Coleman Powermate Inc., Briggs
& Stratton Corporation, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., (collectively “Coleman”), as makers and sellers of the
generator, should be joined as additional defendants in the suit because the design of the gas tank may have
contributed to the fuel spill. Because King’s attorney thought this would weaken the case against Rheem,
a decision was made not to join Coleman. However, King’s attorney suggested that any additional claims
against Coleman might be assigned to Rheem as part of the settlement agreement. In October, 1998,
Rheemagreed to settle with King for $7.6 million. As part of the settlement agreement, King and the other
wrongful death beneficiaries released Rheem from liability and assigned to Rheem all rights they might have
against other parties concerning this incident.
¶5. At this point, rather than dismissing the action against Rheem, King, along with Rheem as assignee,
filed an amended complaint in January, 1999, against Rheem and Coleman, raising negligence and strict
2
The wrongful death beneficiaries under Mississippi’s wrongful death statute, Miss. Code Ann.
§ 11-7-13, were her husband and thirteen children.
3
liability claims, and requesting all damages that could have been awarded to the estate of Mrs King and to
the wrongful death beneficiaries of Mrs. King, including compensatory and punitive damages. Rheem then
answered its own complaint, admitting all the substantive allegations made against it and Coleman. Included
in Rheem’s answer was a cross-claim for indemnity, contribution and reimbursement against Coleman.
¶6. After intervening delays,3 in August, 2002, Coleman moved for and was granted partial summary
judgment dismissing King because he had no real interest in the claims in the amended complaint, and
realigning Rheem as the plaintiff and real party in interest. In September, 2002, Coleman moved for
summary judgment on all claims. The circuit court denied this motion and also denied a motion for
reconsideration and a petition for certification for interlocutory appeal. Coleman then filed a petition to this
Court for interlocutory appeal, which we granted. See M.R.A.P. 5.
¶7. Coleman’s primary issue on appeal is whether the wrongful death beneficiaries’ assignment of their
rights to Rheem authorizes Rheem to prosecute a wrongful death action for Mrs. King’s death under
Mississippi’s wrongful death statute. Coleman also raises issues regarding Rheem’s cross claim for
indemnity, contribution and reimbursement, but according to Rheem, it no longer brings these claims
because of its realignment as plaintiff in this suit. Rheem states that Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7 (1999),4
confers a right of contribution in tort to a defendant that is jointly liable with other parties, but concedes that
because there has been no legal judgment against it, contribution, indemnity, and reimbursement are not
3
The case was removed to federal court and remanded back to state court. After this, the case
was removed from the active circuit court docket until July, 2002, pending bankruptcy proceedings of
Coleman's parent company, Sunbeam Corp.
4
Section (4) of Mississippi's allocation of fault statute states: “Any defendant held jointly liable
under this section shall have a right of contribution against fellow joint tort-feasors. A defendant shall be
held responsible for contribution to other joint tort-feasors only for the percentage of fault assessed to such
defendant.” Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7 (emphasis added)
4
available to it under Mississippi law. Therefore, this opinion deals only with the wrongful death claim. We
hold that Rheem’s cross claims for contribution, indemnity, and reimbursement are to be dismissed with
prejudice.
¶8. We are persuaded that Mississippi’s wrongful death statute is not the appropriate avenue for a
claim such as this between parties that are, in reality, both adverse to the original plaintiffs. We hold that
the trial court erred as a matter of law when it denied Coleman’s motion for summary judgment. A
wrongful death claim is not assignable by a wrongful death beneficiary to one tortfeasor to be asserted
against another joint tortfeasor.
ANALYSIS
¶9. The standard for granting summary judgment is set forth in Miss. R. Civ. P. 56. We review de
novo the granting or denying of summary judgment and examine all the evidentiary matters before us --
admissions in pleadings, answers to interrogatories, depositions, affidavits, etc. The burden of
demonstrating that no genuine issue of fact exists is on the moving party. That is, the non-movant is given
the benefit of the doubt. McCullough v. Cook, 679 So. 2d 627, 630 (Miss. 1996). If, in this view, there
is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, summary
judgment should be entered in that party’s favor. The party opposing the motion must be diligent and may
not rest upon allegations or denials in the pleadings but must set forth specific facts showing that there are
indeed genuine issues for trial. Richmond v. Benchmark Constr. Corp., 692 So. 2d 60, 61 (Miss.
1997). A motion for summary judgment is not a substitute for trial of disputed fact issues. Accordingly,
the court cannot try issues of fact on a Rule 56 motion; it may only determine whether there are issues to
be tried. Dennis v. Searle, 457 So. 2d 941, 944 (Miss. 1984).
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¶10. Coleman claims that the trial court should have granted summary judgment to them on the wrongful
death claim because (1) Rheem is not an individual authorized by Mississippi’s wrongful death statute to
bring an action, thus it is statutorily prevented from bringing the action, (2) Rheem’s attempt to take
assignment in a wrongful death action is against the prevailing law of other jurisdictions, and (3) although
Rheem calls its claim a wrongful death action, it is in reality a suit seeking contribution and/or indemnity,
which it cannot do under Mississippi law.
¶11. Rheemcounters that there is nothing in the laws of Mississippi which would prohibit the assignment
of a legal right; that the original plaintiffs have the legal right to settle with some parties and reserve their
rights against others; and that Rheem, as assignee of the rights received from the original plaintiffs, now
occupies the position of the plaintiffs, pursuing a remedy legally vested in them.
Mississippi’s Wrongful Death Statute
¶12. Contrary to some jurisdictions, Mississippi law generally allows assignment of personal injury
claims through either the assignment statute, Miss. Code Ann. § 11-3-7 or the survival statute, Miss Code
Ann. § 91-7-233 (Rev. 1994). However, the assignability of personal injury claims does not automatically
extend to wrongful death claims, which are governed by the Mississippi wrongful death statute, Miss. Code
Ann. § 11-7-13. “Claims for death exist solely by virtue of statute, and most commonly, such statutes vest
the cause of action in a specified individual . . . while the right to the proceeds is given to separately
specified persons . . .” R. D. Hursh, Annotation, Assignability of Claim for Personal Injury or
Death, 40 A.L.R. 2d 500, § 9[a], at 514 (1955). Mississippi’s wrongful death statute specifies certain
individuals who may bring an action for wrongful death and certain other individuals who may benefit from
the proceeds of the claim:
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The action for such damages may be brought in the name of the personal representative
of the deceased person for the benefit of all persons entitled under the law to
recover, or by widow for the death of her husband, or by the husband for the death
of the wife, or by the parent for the death of a child, or in the name of a child, or in the
name of a child for the death of a parent, or by a brother for the death of a sister, or by
a sister for the death of a brother, or by a sister for the death of a sister, or a brother
for the death of a brother, or all parties interested may join in the suit, and there shall be
but one (1) suit for the same death which shall ensue for the benefit of all parties
concerned, but the determination of such suit shall not bar another action unless it be
decided on its merits. . . .
Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-13 (emphasis added). Defendants argue that because the wrongful death statute
created a new cause of action in derogation of the common law, it must be strictly construed. Franklin
v. Franklin ex rel. Phillips, 858 So. 2d 110, 115 (Miss. 2003); Boroughs v. Oliver, 217 Miss.
280, 64 So. 2d 338 (1953). Only those individuals listed in the wrongful death statute may bring this
independent cause of action. Partyka v. Yazoo Dev. Corp., 376 So. 2d 646, 650 (Miss. 1979) (citing
Hasson Grocery Co. v. Cook, 196 Miss. 452, 459, 17 So. 2d 791 (1944)); see also Franklin, 858
So.2d at 115 (¶14) (“Only those individuals listed in the wrongful death statute may bring this independent
cause of action.”). Thus, defendants argue that because the wrongful death statute limits the authority to
bring an action to specified individuals, and because it does not specifically allow assignment of actions,
assignment of a wrongful death claim is not allowed. This argument has particular merit in reference to the
present case. It is hard to envision that the Legislature intended that a tortfeasor should be able to settle
with a wrongful death plaintiff, then turn around and sue putative joint tortfeasors using the plaintiffs’ cause
of action. To allow this would allow circumvention of the applicable statute controlling the right of
contribution and allocation of fault. See Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7 (1999). There may be a situation in
which a wrongful death claim would be assignable, but this is not it.
7
¶13. Many jurisdictions distinguish between the assignment of the cause of action, and the assignment
of the proceeds of the cause of action, the latter seen as a freely assignable property right rather than a
statutory right. Andrea G. Nadel, Annotation, Assignability of Proceeds of Claim for Personal
Injury or Death, 33 A.L.R. 4th 82, § 8[a], at 106 (1984). We do not address the assignability of
proceeds of wrongful death claims, as this question is not before us. Our holding is limited to the
assignment of the wrongful death cause of action.
Prevailing law in other jurisdictions.
¶14. “It seems well settled that, absent contrary statutory provisions, an individual who, under the
applicable death statute, is authorized to bring an action to recover for a death may not assign to another
his right to prosecute such action.” Assignability, 40 A.L.R. 2d 500, § 9[b], at 514. Alabama and
Georgia have adopted the view that wrongful death claims cannot be assigned because the wrongful death
statute vests the right of recovery solely in the person(s) named in the statute. Other states have held that
the personal nature of wrongful death actions and the close relationship between the decedent and the
beneficiaries preclude assignment of a wrongful death claim. Some jurisdictions have determined that to
allow assignment of wrongful death claims would increase the risks associated with maintenance and
champerty.5 The following jurisdictions have determined that an action to recover for a death may not be
assigned: Alabama - Holt v. Stollenwerck, 56 So. 912 (Ala. 1911) (dictum); Georgia - Bloodworth
v. Jones, 11 S.E.2d 658 (Ga. 1940); New York - Travelers’ Ins. Co. v. Louis Padula Co., 121 N.E.
348 (N.Y. 1918); Oregon - Rorvik v. North Pac. Lumber Co., 99 Or. 58, 190 P. 331, 195 P. 1635
Champerty is “[a] bargain between a stranger and a party to a lawsuit by which the stranger
pursues the party’s claim in consideration of receiving part of any judgment proceeds.” Black’s Law
Dictionary 231 (6th ed. 1990).
8
(1920) (overruled on other grounds, Hansen v. Hayes, 175 Or. 358, 154 P.2d 202(1944); Pennsylvania
- Marsh v. Western New York & P. R. Co. 204 Pa. 229, 53 A. 1001 (1903); Utah - Re Behm's
Estate 117 Utah 151, 213 P.2d 657 (1950); Ariz -Chevron Chem. Co. v. Superior Court, 131 Ariz.
431, 641 P.2d 1275 (1982); Cal - Mayo v. White, 178 Cal. App. 3d 1083, 224 Cal. Rptr. 373 (5th
Dist. 1986); Fla - Clar v. Dade County, 116 So. 2d 34 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1959) (citing annotation);
Mo - Forsthove v. Hardware Dealers Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 416 S.W.2d 208 (Mo. Ct. App. 1967)
(citing annotation).
¶15. The only jurisdictions that have allowed assignment of wrongful death claims are Louisiana, Illinois,
Texas, and Iowa. Louisiana and Illinois have statutory authorization for assignment of these claims in
certain circumstances. Texas courts have sustained assignments of wrongful death claims when the
assignments have been made after the filing of suit on the claims; such holdings have been made pursuant
to a Texas statute authorizing the transfer of causes of action upon which suit has been filed, which has been
construed to extend to death actions. See Assignability, 40 A.L.R. 2d 500, § 9[c], at 515. Iowa has
held that held a wrongful death claim assignment void, but only because of the lack of consideration, and
not because the death claim was inherently nonassignable. Flynn v. Chicago G. W. R. Co., 159 Iowa
571, 141 N.W. 401 (1913). No jurisdiction has yet authorized one tortfeasor to bring an action against
a joint tortfeasor as assignee of the wrongful death beneficiaries.
9
Mississippi law governing allocation of fault
¶16. Coleman argues that Rheem is attempting to use the Mississippi assignment statute6 to bring a claim
that it could not bring under Mississippi’s allocation of fault statute,7 and cites Wilson v. Giordano
Insurance Agency, Inc., 475 So. 2d 414 (Miss. 1985), to support this contention. Wilson, which was
decided prior to the current allocation of fault statute, determined that the Mississippi assignment statute
did not override the existing common law prohibiting contribution between joint tortfeasors. In Wilson,
a couple financed the purchase of a house through a mortgage company, purchasing flood insurance
through a separate insurance agency. The couple purchased the flood insurance during closing, but the
mortgage company mistakenly told the insurance company to cancel the policy because it was not required.
The insurance was cancelled without the knowledge of the purchasers and without a refund of the insurance
premium from the insurance agent. The house was subsequently damaged in a flood. The mortgage
company, recognizing its vulnerability, offered to pay the couple the full amount of the coverage the couple
had originally purchased, and as part of the agreement, the couple assigned any claims they had against the
insurance company to the mortgage company. The mortgage company then filed suit against the insurance
company as assignee of the couple. This Court quoted the trial court’s finding prior to affirming its dismissal
of the mortgage company’s lawsuit:
It is the opinion of this Court that the assignment from the plaintiffs to [the mortgage
company] was valid. However, since this Court has found that [the mortgage company]
is a joint tortfeasor, [it] is estopped from pursuing this action against [the insurance
agency].
Id. at 417.
6
Miss. Code Ann. § 11-7-3 (1972). This statute allows the assignee of any chose in action to
sue for and recover on the action in his own name, as long as the assignment is in writing.
7
Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7.
10
¶17. Rheem argues that the legal reasoning of Wilson is no longer valid and cites Sneed v. Ford
Motor Co., 735 So. 2d 306 (Miss. 1999) in support of this contention. In Sneed, the passengers of an
automobile involved in a rollover accident sued, among others, the driver of the vehicle and his parent’s
insurance company. The insurance company settled with the passengers prior to trial. The settlement
agreement provided that the passengers would bring an action against Ford Motor Company, for which
the insurance company would pay the expenses. Upon recovery, the insurance company would be paid
its expenses and its settlement amount, after which additional proceeds would go to the passengers. The
trial court determined the agreement to be champertous. This Court stated that the determination of the
issue in Sneed was whether the insurers had a real and legitimate interest in the claims, or whether they
should be characterized as intermeddling strangers and barred by the champerty statute as a matter of
public policy. This Court held that the agreement was not champertous and was a valid assignment.
¶18. Rheem’s argument is without merit. Sneed does not invalidate Wilson, because this Court did
not address the issue that the insurance company may be viewed as a joint tortfeasor with Ford Motor
Company. The only issue addressed by this Court was whether the contract between the insurance
company and the plaintiffs was champertous, whereas in Wilson, even though the assignment was found
to be valid, the validity of the assignment did not override the common law rule against contribution from
joint tortfeasors.
¶19. Mississippi law now explicitly confers a right of contribution in tort to a defendant that is jointly
liable with another party. Miss. Code Ann. § 85-5-7(4). This is contingent on there being a joint judgment
against the defendants.Estate of Hunter v. General Motors Corp., 729 So. 2d 1264, 1275-76 (Miss.
1999). However, Rheem has conceded that, based on this statute, it is not eligible for contribution
because there has been no judgment entered against it. There is no case cited by Rheem that shows that
11
the Mississippi assignment statute preempts the allocation of fault statute, and we decline to take this
position.
CONCLUSION
¶20. We hold that the trial court erred as a matter of law when it denied defendants’ motion for summary
judgment on all claims. Rheem conceded without argument that its contribution and indemnity claims are
not available to it under Mississippi law. Additionally, Mississippi’s wrongful death statute does not confer
upon a tortfeasor the right of assignment of a plaintiff’s wrongful death cause of action. Therefore, we
reverse the trial court’s order denying the defendants’ summary judgment motion, and we render judgment
here in favor of Coleman Powermate Inc., Briggs & Stratton Corporation, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
dismissing the amended complaint, this action, and Rheem’s cross claims with prejudice.
¶21. REVERSED AND RENDERED.
SMITH, C.J., WALLER, P.J., EASLEY, CARLSON AND RANDOLPH, JJ.,
CONCUR. DIAZ, GRAVES AND DICKINSON, JJ., NOT PARTICIPATING.
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