Eugene and Angelica Sanchez, Petitioners v. Charles J. Schindler, Respondents

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court held that under the Texas Wrongful Death Act a parent may recover damages for mental anguish, loss of society and companionship for the death of a child, rejecting the historic pecuniary loss rule, and reversed the Court of Appeals to award the jury's $102,500 mental anguish verdict to Mrs. Sanchez. Justice Pope dissented, arguing the court should not overturn the longstanding pecuniary‑loss limitation, while Justice Ray concurred, agreeing with the result but urging a broader view of proof for mental anguish.