Your firm has been contacted by parents whose only daughter was allegedly murdered. The murder trial of the accused resulted in a hung jury. Frustrated by the results of the criminal trial, the parents have come to your firm seeking to file a wrongful-death action against the alleged murderer, who is an influential and wealthy businessman. Two years and two days have elapsed since the daughter’s body was found.
1. Find the wrongful-death statute in your state. (You can go to http://www.law.cornell.edu to find the statutes in your state.) What does it provide?
2. Can the parents of an adult child bring a wrongful-death action in your state?
3. What is the statute of limitations for wrongful-death actions in your state?
4. What kinds of damages can the parents recover?