Kulawik v. ERA Jet Alaska

I respectfully disagree with the court’s treatment of the issue of “prospective inheritance.” Alaska Statute 09.55.580(c)(1) (1983 & Supp.1990) plainly precludes consideration of a decedent’s possible future accumulations for purposes of determining damage awards in wrongful death suits brought by statutory beneficiaries. The statute, therefore, effectively bars any recovery of damages for loss of prospective inheritance.

Alaska Statute 09.55.580(c)(1) (1983 & Supp.1990) states partly that a jury, in awarding damages, must consider the loss of “expect[ed] ... pecuniary benefits” to the…