Williams v. Cover

This appeal concerns the probate court’s apportionment of approximately $110,000 of wrongful death proceeds between the decedent’s divorced parents. Pursuant to ORS 30.040, 1 the probate court, after hearing, awarded each parent 50 percent of the net settlement proceeds. Mother appeals and asks this court to reduce father’s share. We review de novo 2 and affirm the apportionment.

Decedent was killed in a car accident at the age of 19. Her parents were divorced when decedent was six years old, and she and her sister lived with mother from that time until decedent’s death. Father continued to…