Glona v. American Guarantee & Liability Insurance

This suit was brought in the Federal District Court under the head of diversity jurisdiction to recover for a wrongful death suffered in an automobile accident in Louisiana. The plaintiff, a Texas domiciliary, was the mother of the victim, her illegitimate son. Had the Texas wrongful death statute1 been applicable, it would, as construed, have authorized the action.2 But sum*74mary judgment was granted on the ground that under Louisiana law3 the mother had no right of action for the death of her illegitimate son. The Court of Appeals affirmed, rejecting the claim that the discrimination violated…