Personal Injury Actions between Spouses

When spouses commit torts against each other, a cause of action may or may not be available to the injured spouse. It depends upon the jurisdiction and the type of injury.

Classifying Torts

Apart from legislation granting a right to sue for a specific harm, personal injury law generally consists of tort law and the civil procedure for enforcing it. This article discusses how tort law is classified.

Tort Action for Interference with a Dead Body

Under the common law, a person commits a tort when he or she intentionally, recklessly, or negligently removes, withholds, mutilates, or operates upon the body of a dead person or when he or she prevents the proper burial or cremation of the dead body. The person who commits this tort is liable for damages to the family member or members of the deceased person.

Structured Settlements

When a plaintiff brings a personal injury action against a defendant for damages and the parties decide to settle the case, they may enter into a structured settlement to compensate the plaintiff for his injury. Structured settlements are monetary awards for damages that are paid in installments over a period of time. They are frequently used to settle tort cases involving severe injuries in which large damages are sought (e.g., products liability, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases) because of the defendant's inability to pay the amount in one lump sum.

The Jones Act -- Definition of a Seaman

The Jones Act applies only to a "seaman" who is injured while working aboard a vessel in navigable waters. In order to be a "seaman" within the meaning of the Jones Act, the worker must meet certain requirements.