Mobil Oil Corp. v. Higginbotham

436 U.S. 618, 98 S. Ct. 2010, 56 L. Ed. 2d 581 (1978)

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Mobil Oil Corp. v. Higginbotham

United States Supreme Court
436 U.S. 618, 98 S. Ct. 2010, 56 L. Ed. 2d 581 (1978)

Facts

A helicopter owned by and used in the drilling operations of Mobil Oil Corporation (Mobil) (defendant) crashed on the high seas, killing its pilot and three passengers. The passengers’ widows (plaintiffs) sued Mobil for wrongful death, seeking recovery for pecuniary losses and for loss of society. The district court awarded damages based on the claims for pecuniary loss. However, although the district court valued the loss-of-society claims, the court denied recovery on these claims. The court of appeals reversed, finding that the widows could recover for loss of society. Mobil appealed, and the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Stevens, J.)

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