Monday, May 5, 2003
BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. v. Linda Meeks

No.02-1033

St. John's County


Meeks' husband was killed when he was electrocuted by downed power lines suspended from a rotted pole previously maintained by BellSouth. The husband was survived by his wife, a 28-year-old daughter, and a 24-year-old son. Florida law only permits surviving children to sue over a parent's death if they are younger than 25, but a question arose as to whether the son could seek loss of consortium damages only for the time until he reached age 25 or for his entire life. The trial judge ruled that his damages would extend only until his 25th birthday, but the Fifth District Court ruled they would extend for his entire life.