Remember, a wrongful death action consists of two categories of claims:
those that belong to the decedent’s survivors and consists of the “full value of the life of the decedent,” and those that belong to the estate and include medical expenses incurred prior to death, funeral and burial expenses, conscious pain and suffering prior to death, and punitive damages.
For calculating the limitations period for the estate’s claims, Georgia law allows for up to five years to pass between the decedent’s death and the appointment of an administrator. This potential five-year tolling period applies only to the estate’s claims; the claim for the “full value of the life of the decedent” is subject to Georgia’s two-year personal injury statute of limitations (even if the death arose out contract claim). O.C.G.A. §§ 9-3-33; 9-3-92. Consequently, while the law allows for a delay in prosecuting the estate’s claims to appoint an administrator, that time is not unlimited and is, of course, still subject to any statute of repose.
Goodman v. Satilla Health Servs., Inc., 290 Ga. App. 6 (2008) offers an example of how Georgia’s tolling statute due to death works in practice and in conjunction with other applicable statutes of limitations. Goodman involved a medical malpractice action that arose out of a misdiagnosis. In most misdiagnosis cases, the injury begins immediately upon the misdiagnosis; the misdiagnosis itself is the injury, and not the subsequent discovery of the proper diagnosis. Therefore, the fact that the patient did not know the medical cause of her suffering does not affect the applicability of O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71(a). While there was a dispute about when the misdiagnosis occurred, the date most favorable to the estate, and ultimately used given the procedural posture of the case, was June 22, 2001. The decedent then died six months later on December 23rd. Upon death, the law automatically tolled the two-year limitations on the estate’s claims until an administrator was appointed, roughly a year later, on November 8, 2002, at which point, the two-year limitations period began to run again. The estate then waited another 20 months before filing suit, i.e., 26 months after the date of the injury minus the tolling period. But by then, the two-year statute of limitations had run, and the estate’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations. Goodman, 290 Ga. App. at 6-9 (citations omitted).
Under Georgia law, only the appointment of a permanent administrator capable of asserting claims on behalf of the estate will end the legal tolling period. Thus, obtaining counsel or seeking expert advice or taking other actions that might be consistent with the role of an administrator will not act to implicitly wave any statute of limitations. It is the date that a permanent administrator is appointed that controls and not some amorphous timeframe based on when a defendant could theoretically allege a person was effectively acting as the administrator. Hayes v. Hines, 347 Ga. App. 802, 807-08 (2018); Goodman v. Satilla Health Servs., Inc., 290 Ga. App. 6, 9 (2008); Walden v. John D. Archbold Mem’l Hosp., Inc., 197 Ga. App. 275, 279–80 (1990) (disapproved of by First Christ Holiness Church, Inc. v. Owens Temple First Christ Holiness Church, Inc., 282 Ga. 883 (2008)).
Finally, just as Georgia law tolls a potential cause of action for the estate up to five years until the appointment of an administrator, the law also grants a similar right to a potential creditor of the estate for up to five years until the appointment of an administrator or between the termination of one administrator for another. O.C.G.A § 9-3-93.
Finch McCranie, LLP has represented many families in wrongful death lawsuits in the metro Atlanta area and throughout the State of Georgia for over 50 years. If a loved one has died and you believe a wrongful death claim may be appropriate, please contact us at 404-658-9070 for a free consultation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, navigating the complexities of wrongful death claims in Georgia involves understanding the two distinct categories of claims: those for the decedent’s survivors and those for the estate. While Georgia law allows for a potential five-year tolling period for the estate’s claims, this period is not unlimited and is subject to statutes of repose. The case of Goodman v. Satilla Health Servs., Inc. illustrates how the tolling statute due to death operates practically and interacts with other statutes of limitations.
Moreover, Georgia law extends a similar tolling right to potential creditors of the estate, allowing up to five years for the initiation of a cause of action until the appointment of an administrator or between the termination of one administrator and the appointment of another.
If you are dealing with a potential wrongful death claim and require legal guidance, Finch McCranie, LLP, with over 50 years of experience, has successfully represented numerous families in such cases throughout Georgia. For a free consultation, contact them at 404-658-9070.
FAQs
What are the two categories of claims in a wrongful death action in Georgia?
The two categories are claims for the decedent’s survivors, including the “full value of the life of the decedent,” and claims for the estate, covering medical expenses, funeral costs, conscious pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
How long is the limitations period for the estate’s claims in Georgia?
Georgia law allows up to five years to pass between the decedent’s death and the appointment of an administrator for the estate’s claims.
Is there a specific statute of limitations for the “full value of the life of the decedent” claim?
Yes, the claim for the “full value of the life of the decedent” is subject to Georgia’s two-year personal injury statute of limitations.
How does the tolling statute due to death work in practice?
The tolling statute automatically pauses the limitations period on the estate’s claims upon the decedent’s death until the appointment of a permanent administrator, allowing up to five years.
When does the legal tolling period end in Georgia wrongful death claims?
The legal tolling period ends with the appointment of a permanent administrator capable of asserting claims on behalf of the estate.
Can seeking legal counsel or taking actions consistent with the role of an administrator waive statutes of limitations?
No, only the appointment of a permanent administrator has the legal effect of ending the tolling period; other actions do not implicitly waive statutes of limitations.
Does Georgia law provide a similar tolling right for potential creditors of the estate?
Yes, Georgia law grants a potential creditor up to five years to initiate a cause of action until the appointment of an administrator or between the termination of one administrator and the appointment of another.