Yowell v. Piper Aircraft Corporation
Texas Supreme Court
703 S.W.2d 630 (1986)
- Written by Eric Miller, JD
Facts
Howard Reed Yowell and others died in a plane crash. Vicki Leigh Yowell, Howard’s widow and estate executrix, brought a wrongful-death action on behalf of Howard’s heirs (the Yowells) (plaintiffs). The Yowells presented evidence showing the projected future earnings that were lost as a result of the deaths. At trial, a jury found the plane’s maker, Piper Aircraft Corporation (Piper) (defendant), liable and awarded the Yowells $8 million in damages, including for loss of inheritance money. Piper appealed, partly to challenge the sufficiency of the pleading with regard to the Yowells’ loss-of-inheritance claims, which did not specify loss of inheritance. The court of appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment. The Yowells appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Spears, J.)
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