Ex Parte Blansit

We granted certiorari to review the Court of Civil Appeals in a declaratory judgment action involving Alabama's workmen's compensation law. The issue is the proper allocation of death benefits among the widow of an employee and his four children by previous marriages.

The trial Court awarded workmen's compensation benefits exclusively to the widow. On appeal, the Court of Civil Appeals affirmed (with Wright, P.J., dissenting). We reverse and remand.

The Alabama law controlling the amount and allocation of death benefits payable to the dependents of a deceased employee is set out in §§ 25-5-60…