Legal Opinion
Portwood v. Copper Valley Electric Ass'n
Alaska Supreme Court
Decided January 12, 1990No. S-3133PublishedCited by 7 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
OPINION
COMPTON, Justice.
This petition for review presents the question whether punitive damages are recoverable in a wrongful death action when the decedent is not survived by a spouse, child or other dependents. The superior court ruled that the decedent’s estate could not recover punitive damages. We reverse and remand.
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND.
The material facts in this case are not in dispute. In 1985, Timothy Haynes was fatally electrocuted while salvaging wood from downed utility poles. Haynes was seventeen years old and was not survived by a spouse, children, or other…
2Cases cited14 opinions
- Guin v. HaAlaska Supreme Court · 1979
- Helen L. Huff, Administratrix of the Estate of Jessee Huff, Deceased, Cross-Appellant v. White Motor Corporation, Cross-AppelleeCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 1979
- Bergen v. F/V St. PatrickCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1987
- Gavica v. HansonIdaho Supreme Court · 1980
- Behrens v. Raleigh Hills Hospital, Inc.Utah Supreme Court · 1983
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3Cited by7 opinions
- Beck v. State, Department of Transportation & Public FacilitiesAlaska Supreme Court · 1992
- Lundquist v. LundquistAlaska Supreme Court · 1996
- Kulawik v. ERA Jet AlaskaAlaska Supreme Court · 1991
- Beck v. DEPT. OF TRANSP. & P. FACILITIESAlaska Supreme Court · 1992
- In re Crash of Aircraft N93PC on July 7, 2013, at Soldotna, AlaskaDistrict Court, D. Alaska · 2021
2 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.