Parents became plaintiffs in wrongful death suit for daughter

After the death of their daughter, two Missouri parents were hoping to become plaintiffs in a suit filed against a former CEO of Anheuser-Busch. The woman was found dead in December 2010 after overdosing on drugs in the man's house.

A trial court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, originally denied the request of the woman's parents to become plaintiffs in the wrongful death suit filed against the man -- their grandson was the sole individual listed as a plaintiff. A $1.5 million settlement that would have ended the suit was delayed because of the parents' decision to appeal the lower court's denial.

Though the parents were allowed to argue for a portion of the settlement money, they were not satisfied. Recently, their appeal was made to the Missouri Court of Appeals in the Eastern District and after hearing it, the court decided to allow the parents to become plaintiffs. This decision may change the direction that the suit heads in.

By allowing their participation, the appeals court has opened up many options for the trial. The former CEO may have to provide testimony under oath regarding the woman's death. The parents may provide depositions that could change the decision that a jury makes when deciding the case.

Now that the parents will become plaintiffs, their first major move will be considering the $1.5 million settlement. In order to see the trial through, the couple will set that sum aside. The man's attorneys may be able to have the case transferred to a higher court, which could delay the trial even further.

Source: St. Louis Business Journal, "Parents in Busch wrongful death lawsuit allowed to participate in suit," Matthew Hibbard, Dec. 27, 2011