Special Causes of Action in Virginia Flashcards
In a wrongful death action brought by decedent’s personal representative. Who are the beneficiaries?
- Surviving spouse, children, grandchildren of decedent;
- If there are no children or grandchildren: the surviving spouse & parents of the decedent;
- If there are no surviving spouse, children, or grandchildren: the parents and siblings of the decedent.
If there are no beneficiaries that fall into the categories for the VA special wrongful death cause of action, who will the damages pass to?
The damages pass to the decedent’s intestate takers.
Under the VA wrongful death cause of action, what damages may be awarded?
Damages can include:
1. sorrow, anguish, and lost companionship;
2. services and income provided by decedent,
3. medical and funeral expenses; and
4. punitive damages for wanton or willful misconduct.
What if a victim is injured and brings an action for personal injuries before he dies, but then he dies from the same injuries?
A personal representative is substituted as plaintiff and sues for wrongful death.
A declaratory judgement may be sought in…
circuit court ONLY.
The state highway department paves over a portion of Sally’s land as part of a new road. The state did nothing to compensate Sally. What might she do?
Sally may sue for a declaratory judgment of compensation due, then she may later enforce that as damages.
A partition of reality case may be brought in…
circuit court only.
[concerns title or boundary to realty – category A venue].
If the court orders ______, the court divides up property among various interested persons so each gets some land. This is the preferred method.
Partition in kind
If the court orders ______, the court lets one or more of the co-owners have the land and orders them to pay off the others. Before allotment, the court must determine that _____ cannot be practically made.
Partition by allotment; partition in kind
If partition in kind and partition by allotment are not feasible, the court may order _____, where the land will be sold and the co-owners will split the proceeds. This method is not favored.
Partition by sale
What must the court find before it can order partition by sale?
That the other two options are not practicable and that partition by sale is in the interests of the parties.
A and B own land as joint tenants. Paula has an unsatisfied judgment against A. She sues both A & B in the county where A & B’s land is located, asking that the court partition the land and sell A’s interest to satisfy the judgment. B files a demurrer. How should the court rule?
Overrule the demurrer. Paula has a right to sue based on her lien.
The court determines that while the land could be divided in kind and apportioned between A & B, it would instead order sale of the whole tract, with Paula’s judgment to be satisfied out of A’s half. Did the court err?
Yes, the court may not order partition by sale if another partition method is practicable.
But, what if the land is far more valuable if it is kept as a single tract?
Irrelevant.
An action to establish boundaries may be brought in…
circuit court only.
[concerns title or boundary to realty – category A venue].
What is the result of an action to establish boundaries?
Simply an order describing the boundary between contiguous adjoining land.
