Eppley v. Tri-Valley Local School District Board of Education

{¶ 1} In this case, we are asked to determine the constitutionality of R.C. 2125.04, the wrongful death saving statute. Because we hold that the statute does not violate the right to equal protection of the law, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals insofar as it holds that the statute is unconstitutional.

I. Case Background

{¶ 2} Joshua M. Eppley, a student in the Tri-Valley Local School District, died on November 26, 2003, in an accident while a passenger in a car driven by Corey W. Jenkins. Appellee, Randy J. Eppley, the administrator of Joshua’s estate, initially filed a complaint…