WPCD ٥yR:QD_6GD ҩ*'!Ɋ$}3^BsMmԗ,:hn8# "JZЅ p]{7 ;a}LUK"uan @~7CCTyHPzcԏ ?|e!w@mzV_d,s|ώ=.MjEjSEp-mO2{1amex#uPb~TJ.&s>Xda!|- ? 2vɣs:6M@iMuN;*OI#[%.ev(|w@&锭^f.^Afǩ]H1r,ߚ<Oո9h/tz>fr"\=oy[b~O<ěfMWQ|YZE7F>3,49mMyX,tnOb#\ % UN# 0q UN 0DG W z \ 1u. 1 72*^ \h.wNu4E  m"""""""""""""""""""""b999999999999999999999999999999999999 0AAAA B,, 0I D3 D-  0KMM AS 0 0DU AHP LaserJet 4,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#$  0   M R$      1  ,   _ԀWenotethataportionofDavidBornfriendsdepositionwasreadattrial,inwhichMr.Bornfriendclaimed  thatatsomepointafterheexitedhisroom,heknockedonotherresidentsdoorstonotifythemofthefire.TheState, x however,initsopeningstatement,claimedthatMr.Bornfrienddidnothingtoalertanyoneaboutthefire.Apparently, @ theClaimsCommissioneragreedwiththeState. C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. i)c +L Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 k R$      2  ,   _ԀSection2920403(a)(1)(A)oftheTennesseeCodestatesthat [m]inimumlimitsofnotlessthanonehundred  thirtythousanddollars($130,000)forbodilyinjuryordeathofanyone(1)personinanyone(1)accident,occurrence x oractandnotlessthanthreehundredfiftythousanddollars($350,000)forbodilyinjuryordeathofallpersonsinany @ one(1)accident....Tenn.CodeAnn.2920403(a)(1)(A)(2000).L-(P#k23|x U- -(|G2$ !.8ldd8         0  d d(|3$ !.8ldd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8ldd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8ddd8     _  d8XXdd8  @ dINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#d #Ԉ ,   MAY2,2001Session X XXd #dXX#_MR_.&_MRS_.WOOJUN_KI_,Individuallyandasparentsandnextofkinof  ` _JONG_ԄDO_KI_,Deceasedv.STATEOFTENNESSEEXXd  ( x @@ DirectAppealfromtheTennesseeClaimsCommission 0  @@No.98000661;TheHonorableRandyCamp,ClaimsCommissioner  p @@*AV) ` dE<` A @  @@TTNo.W200002364_COA_ԄR3CVFiledAugust13,2001 ?  AV) ` dE<` A     XXXXThisappealarisesfromatragicfireonthecampusoftheUniversityofTennesseeatMartin,in  which_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁlosthislife._Jong_ԄDo_Ki_sparents,Mr.andMrs.WooJun_Ki_,filedsuitagainst   thestateofTennessee.TheClaimsCommissionerfoundthattheStatewasnegligentinthatitfailed  toprovidetheminimumfiresafetyrequirementsmandatedbythefirecodesithadadopted.The  ClaimsCommissioneralsofoundthatthe_Kis_Ԁwereentitledtorecoverdamagesforthewrongful ~ deathoftheirsonpursuanttosection205113oftheTennesseeCode.Additionally,theClaims j Commissionerfoundthatthe_Kis_Ԁwereentitledtorecoverthedamagestheysufferedasaresultof V _Jong_ԄDo_Ki_sdeath!thepecuniaryvalueof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_slife.Becauseweholdthat_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_ B istheonlyclaimantinthiscaseundersection98307(e)oftheTennesseeCode,wereverseinpart, .~ andweremandtotheClaimsCommissionforfurtherproceedingsconsistentwiththisopinion. j #XXXX##dXXd#XXd Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheClaimsCommissionAffirmedin 6 Part,ReversedinPartandRemanded  &   #dXM #XX.dAlanE.Highers,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichW.FrankCrawford,P.J.,W.S., !  andAlanGlenn,J.,joined. "! PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneral&Reporter,MichaelE.Moore,SolicitorGeneral,KimberlyJ. $# Dean,DeputyAttorneyGeneral,Nashville,forAppellant v% $ WilliamD.Leader,Jr.,BarbaraHawleySmith,Nashville,forAppellees V'"& *   -6)- OPINION #dXXY #XXd  #dXXӧ#XXd  XXXX@FactsandProceduralHistory       ThefactsinthiscasearewellsummarizedbytheClaimsCommissioner: h   8   ` OnthenightofJanuary10,1997,David_Bornfriend_ԀandSarah_Branscomb_, @  freshmanstudentsenrolledattheUniversityofTennesseeMartin,metatalocalbar. , | Aftertalkingforawhile,theyleftin_Bornfriend_scarandreturnedto_Ellington_ԀHall,  h adormitoryontheUniversityofTennesseeMartincampus._Bornfriend_Ԁparkedhis  T  caronthesidewalkattheendof_Ellington_ԀHall,commonlyknownasa Y  @  dormitory._Bornfriend_Ԁwasaresidentof_Ellington_ԀHall._Branscomb_Ԁwasaresident ,  ofanotherdormitoryontheUniversityofTennesseeMartincampus.      8   ` _Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁproceededtoanoutsidedoorto_Ellington_ԀHall   whichissecuredbyacardreaderdevice.Thestudentslivingin_Ellington_ԀHallwere   abletoenter_Ellington_ԀHallthroughtheoutsidesecuritydooruntilmidnightby x swipingtheirstudentidentificationcardinthecardreader.Aftermidnightthecard d readerwasinoperableandstudentswererequiredtoenterthroughthelobbyentrance. P _Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁenteredthroughtheoutsidesecuritydoor,climbedthree < flightsofstepsandproceededdownthethirdfloorhallwayto_Bornfriend_sroom, (x number306.d   8   ` _Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁenteredroom306._Bornfriend_sroommatewas < notintheroom.Theroomwindowwasopenedwhentheyentered._Bornfriend_ ( turnedonhistelevision._Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁsaton_Bornfriend_sbedwhich  wasthecloserofthetwobedstothewindow.   8   ` _Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁsmokedacigarettewhiletheysatonthebed.  _Bornfriend_Ԁlitoneormorecandles._Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁhadoneormore t alcoholicbeverages._Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁbegankissingandeventually `  engagedinsexualintercourse.Followingintercourse,_Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁfell L! asleepin_Bornfriend_sbed.8"    8   ` Sometimelater,_Branscomb_Ԁawokeandwokeup_Bornfriend_,informinghim $`" hisshirtwasonfire._Bornfriend_Ԁgotoutofbedandpattedandrolledtheshirt $L # attemptingtoextinguishthefire.Duringthistime,thesmokealarmin_Bornfriend_s %8!$ roomhadsounded._Bornfriend_Ԁpickedupthesmokealarmandhelditoutthe &$"% windowinanattempttoclearit._Bornfriend_Ԁdroppedorthrewthesmokealarmto '#& thegroundsomedistancefromhisownwindow._Bornfriend_Ԁand_Branscomb_Ԁthen (#' wentbacktobed.)$(     *%) 8   ` Ashorttimelater,_Branscomb_Ԁawokeagainandnoticedalargerfirecoming   from_Bornfriend_sshirt._Branscomb_Ԁawakened_Bornfriend_Ԁwhomadeanattemptto  putoutthefirewith_Branscomb_shelp.Theycouldnotextinguishthefire,and  _Bornfriend_Ԁtold_Branscomb_Ԁtoleavetheroom._Branscomb_Ԁlefttheroomcoveredonly t inatowelandranmorethan150feetdownthethirdfloorhallway,downthree ` flightsofstepsandoutthedormitoryexit._Branscomb_Ԁnotifiednoonein_Ellington_ L  Hallofthefire,nordidshesoundanyalarm.8    8   ` _Bornfriend_Ԁthenlefttheroom,leavingthedooropen.Herannudedownthe  ` hallwaytoafriendsroomwhereheputonsomeclothingandthenproceededtothe  L  firstfloorof_Ellington_ԀHall._Bornfriend_Ԁnotifiednoonein_Ellington_ԀHallofthefire  8  nordidhesoundanalarm. #  1      $    8   ` Atsomepointduringthefire,_Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_,aUniversityofTennessee   MartinstudentandresidentofRoom305,_Ellington_ԀHall,wasawakenedbywhathe   thoughtwashisalarmclock.Inactuality,whatheheardwashisroomssmokealarm   andhisroommate,_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁawakeninghim._Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁinformed_Hoon_ p _Namgung_Ԁthattherewasafire.Atthattime,smokewascomingintoRoom305 \ underthedoor._Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁtold_Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_Ԁthatthedoorwashot.Itwas H becomingdifficulttobreathebecauseofthesmokeso_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁand_Hoon_ 4 _Namgung_Ԁattemptedtobreathethroughtheonewindowintheirroom.Becauseof  p thewaythewindowwasconfigured,theywereunabletogetenoughfreshairthrough  \ itssmallopening.Theroomcontinuedtofillwithsmoke._Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁand_Hoon_ H _Namgung_Ԁwenttothebathroomtheysharedwithanothersuiteinanattempttoexit 4 throughtheadjoiningsuite,butthedoorwaslockedfromtheoppositeside.There   wasnoresponsefromtheadjoiningroomtotheircallsforhelp.    8   ` Withinafewseconds,thesmokeinthebathroombecameasthickasthatin  Room305.Atthispoint,_Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_Ԁmadeadecisionthattheymustescapethe  roomiftheyweretosurvive._Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_Ԁopenedthebathroomdoorandwent l intoRoom305.HethenproceededoutthedoorofRoom305andintothehallway. X  Hecouldnotsee_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁbecauseofthethick,darksmoke,butthoughtthat_Jong_Ԅ D! Do_Ki_Ԁwasbehindhim.When_Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_Ԁenteredthehallway,thefirewas 0"  comingfromdirectlyacrossthehallinRoom306andhadspreadintothehallway. #l! _Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_ԀleftthedoortoRoom305open._Hoon_Ԁ_Namgung_Ԁattemptedtoexit $X" thethirdfloor,butlostconsciousnessandcollapsedbeforehecouldmakehisway $D # out.Hewaslaterrescued,takentothehospitalandlifeflightedtoMemphiswhere %0!$ hewashospitalizedforsmokeinhalation.&"%     8   ` ShermanGreer,anotherUniversityofTennesseeMartinstudent,wholived  inRoom302onthethirdfloorof_Ellington_ԀHall,alsoawokeduringthefire.  Althoughhecouldsmellsmoke,heheardnofireorsmokealarmssounding. t Sometimebeforethenightofthefire,Mr.Greersroommatehaddisabledthesmoke ` alarminRoom302byremovingthebatteries.Mr.Greerandhisroommateexited L  theirroomandenteredthehallway.Thehallwaywasfilledwiththick,blacksmoke. 8  Mr.Greerandhisroommategotontheirhandsandkneesandcrawledtowardthe $ t exit.Afterhisroommateexitedthethirdfloor,Mr.Greerattemptedtonotifyothers  ` ofthefirebypullingthefirealarmlocatedinthehallway,butthealarmsoundedfor  L  onlyasecond,makingabuzzingsoundandthenwentsilent.Mr.Greerthen  8  attemptedtowarnotherresidentsbyknockingondoors.Heknockedonseveral $  doors,butcouldnotgetdowntoRoom305and306duetotheextremeheatand   smoke.Mr.Greermadehiswaytothelobbyandinformedthedeskattendantofthe   fire,whothenattemptedtocalltheresidentassistantandsoundedthegeneralalarm.   Mr.Greermadehiswaybacktothethirdflooragain,butcouldnotgodownthehall   towardRoom305and306duetothesmokeandheat.Mr.Greerwentbacktothe p lobbyandexitedthedormitory.AcrowdhadgatheredoutsideandMr.Greerandthe \ otherstudentsgatheredtherewitnessedapersonscreamingforhelpandbeatingon H athirdfloorwindow.Blacksmokewasbillowingoutthewindow.Mr.Greer 4 identifiedthatpersonas_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_. p   8   ` Mr.Greernotifiedthefirefightersthatapersonwasstillonthethirdfloor. H Thefirefightersextinguishedthefireandproceededtosearchthebuildingforpeople. 4 Whilethefirefighterswereventilatingthebuilding,firefighterJoeT.Pierce,Jr.   assistedotherfirefightersincheckingthedormitoryroomsforsurvivors.Pierce   enteredtheopendoortoRoom305andfoundthebodyof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁcurledina  fetalpositionunderablanketnexttothewindowwherehewaslastseen.Firefighter  Pierceandtheotheremergencypersonnelattemptedtoresuscitate_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_,but  theywereunsuccessful.l       _Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁwaslaterpronounceddeadfromsmokeinhalationandcarbonmonoxide D! poisoningcausedbythefire. 0"      TheClaimsCommissionerfoundthattheStateofTennesseenegligentlycreatedandallowed $X" dangerousconditionstoexistat_Ellington_ԀHallundersection98307(a)(1)(C)oftheTennesseeCode $D # byfailingtoprovidetheminimumlifesafetyprovisionsnecessarytoprevent_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_sdeath. %0!$ TheStateofTennessee,theCityofMartin,andtheUniversityofTennesseehadadoptedthe &"% NationalFireProtectionAssociationFirePreventionCodeandtheincorporatedLifeSafetyCode '#& (collectivelythe Code)whichestablishestheminimumacceptablelevelforfiresafetyand (#' preventionforbuildings,includingthoseattheUniversityofTennesseeMartin. )$(   |*%)   TheClaimsCommissionerfoundthattheCodethatwasineffectatthetimeofthefatalfire   mandatedthatalldormitorysleepingroomdoorsthatopenontoexitaccesscorridorsbeselfclosing.  Therewerenoexceptionstothisrequirement.Thedormitorysleepingroomsat_Ellington_ԀHallwere  notequippedwiththerequiredautomaticdoor_closers_. t   TheClaimsCommissioneralsofoundthattheCoderequiredthateverysleepingroomhave L  atleastoneprimaryandonesecondarymeansofescapesuchasanoperablewindowofsufficient 8  dimensions.Therequirementthattherebeasecondarymeansofescape,however,isexemptedif $ t thereisanautomaticsprinklersysteminplace.Theevidenceestablishedthatthewindowin_Jong_Ԅ  ` Do_Ki_sroomwasnotsufficienttoprovideasecondarymeansofescape.Moreover,_Ellington_ԀHall  L  wasnotequippedwithasprinklersystem.  8    TheClaimsCommissionerfoundthat_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_ԀdiedasaresultoftheStatesfailureto   providetheminimumsafetyrequirementsmandatedbytheCode.TheClaimsCommissionerfurther   foundthatthe_Kis_Ԁwereentitledtorecoverdamagesforthewrongfuldeathoftheirsonundersection   205113oftheTennesseeCode.Additionally,theClaimsCommissionerfoundthatMr.andMrs.   _Ki_Ԁwereentitledtorecoverthedamagesthattheysufferedasaresultof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_sdeath!the p pecuniaryvalueof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_slife,whichincludesthe_Kis_lossofaffection,companionshipand \ loveoftheirson. H  XX  Duetotheforegoingfindings,theClaimsCommissionerawardedthe_Kis_Ԁdamagesinthe  p amountof$500,000.00onbehalfoftheirson.TheClaimsCommissioneralsoawardedthe_Kis_  \ $500,000.00fortheinjuriestheysustainedasaresultof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_sdeath.Applyingcomparative H faultprinciples,theCommissionerassessedfortypercentofthefaulttoDavid_Bornfriend_ԀandSarah 4 _Branscomb_,theoccupantsofRoom306whostartedthefire,andheassessedsixtypercentoffault   totheState.Accordingly,theCommissionerheldthatthe_Kis_Ԁwereentitledtorecover$300,000.00   fromtheStateonbehalfof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁand$300,000.00fortheirownlosses.  Ѐ    TheStateofTennesseeappeals,andraisesthefollowingissues,asquotedfromtheirbrief,  forourreview: l  (5h83 I.Whethertheclaimants,asparentsandnextofkinoftheirdeceasedson,inawrongfuldeathclaim D! againsttheStatearelimitedtoarecoveryof$300,000pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.98307(e)? 0"  II.Whethertheclaimants,asparentsoftheirdeceasedson,haveaclaimforlossofconsortium #l! damagesforthedeathofanadultchild? $X" Wewillexamineeachissueinturn. $D #    StandardofReview &"%      OurstandardofreviewofthefindingsoffactbytheCommissionerisestablishedbyRule (#' 13(d)oftheTennesseeRulesofAppellateProcedureproviding: Unlessotherwiserequiredby )$( statute,reviewofthefindingsoffactofthetrialcourtincivilactionsshallbedenovouponthe |*%) recordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthe h+&* preponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.R.App.P.13(d).Nopresumptionof  correctnessattachestothetrialcourtsconclusionsoflaw.SeeTennesseeFarmersMutualIns.Co.  v.Moore,958S.W.2d759(Tenn.Ct.App.1997).     LawandAnalysis `      First,theStatearguesthattherecoverybelowshouldhavebeenlimitedto$300,000.00 8  pursuanttosection98307(e)oftheTennesseeCode.Section98307(e)oftheTennesseeCode $ t statesthefollowing,inrelevantpart: [_f]or_Ԁcausesofactionarisingintort,thestateshallonlybe  ` liablefordamagesuptothesumofthreehundredthousanddollars($300,000)perclaimantandone  L  milliondollars($1,000,000)peroccurrence.Tenn.CodeAnn.98307(e)(Supp.2000).The  8  ClaimsCommissionerfoundthat: $  8  8`   there[were]twoseparateclaimants,onebeing_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_,whose   personalinjuryclaimsurviveshisdeathandisbroughtonhisbehalf   byhisparents,theotherbeingMr.andMrs._Ki_,whoseclaimis   broughtfortheinjuriesandlossestheysufferedasaresultof_Jong_ԄDo p _Ki_sdeath,whichincludethepecuniaryvalueofhislifeandlossof \ consortiumdamages.H` x` x TheStatearguesthattheClaimsCommissionererredbecausethereisonlyoneclaimantinthiscase  p !_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_. `   \   Theruleofstatutoryconstructiontowhichallothersyieldisthattheintentionofthe 4 legislaturemustprevail.SeePlough,Inc.v.PremierPneumatics,Inc.,660S.W.2d495,498(Tenn.   Ct.App.1983);CityofHumboldtv.Morris,579S.W.2d860,863(Tenn.Ct.App.1978).   Legislativeintentorpurposeistobeascertainedprimarilyfromthenaturalandordinarymeaning  ofthelanguageusedwhenreadinthecontextoftheentirestatute,andwithoutanyforcedorsubtle  constructiontolimitorextendtheimportofthelanguage.See_Worrall_Ԁv.KrogerCo.,545S.W.2d  736,738(Tenn.1977);Plough,660S.W.2dat498. l   Withtheaforementionedprinciplesofstatutoryconstructioninmind,wenowturntothe D! issueathand.Wenotethatneithercounselnorourownresearchhasledustoacasethatconstrues 0"  themeaningof claimantinsection98307(e)oftheTennesseeCode. #l!   TheCommissionerfoundthatJordanv.BaptistThreeRiversHospital,984S.W.2d593 $D # (Tenn.1999),appliedtothiscase.TheCommissionerfoundthattheJordancourtheldthat %0!$  Tennesseeswrongfuldeathstatutecreatestwoseparatecausesofaction.Wedisagree.InJordan, &"% thecourtclearlystated [_w]e_Ԁholdthatconsortiumtypedamagesmaybeconsideredwhen '#& calculatingthepecuniaryvalueofadeceasedslife. Thisholdingdoesnotcreateanewcauseof (#' actionbutmerelyrefinesthetermpecuniaryvalue. Id.at601(emphasisadded).Duetothe )$( plainlanguageoftheJordancourtsholding,itisapparentthatnonewcauseofactioniscreated. *%) Further,wenotesection205106(a)oftheTennesseeCode: p+&*    Therightofactionwhichaperson ,whodiesfrominjuriesreceived  fromanother,orwhosedeathiscausedbythewrongfulact,omission,  orkillingbyanother, wouldhavehadagainstthewrongdoer ,in  casedeathhadnotensued, shallnotabate orbeextinguishedbythe | personsdeath butshallpass tothepersonssurvivingspouseand, l incasethereisnosurvivingspouse,tothepersonschildrenornext \  ofkin.... H    Tenn.CodeAnn.205106(a)(1994)(emphasisadded).Inreadingtheaforementionedstatute  p andJordan,itisclearthatnonewcauseofactioniscreated,rather,thedeceasedpersonsaction  \  simplypassestothedeceasedsnextofkin.SeegenerallySwansonv.Peterson,No.M199900241  H  COAR3CV,2000WL48502,at*2(Tenn.Ct.App.Jan.21,2000)(statingthatwrongfuldeath 4  actionsareintendedtopreservethedeceasedsowncauseofactionagainstthewrongdoerfor   damagesfrominjuriessustainedinthedeathcausingact)(citationsomitted).     WealsonotethecaseofHillv.CityofGermantown,31S.W.3d234(Tenn.2000).Although   theHilldecisionconstruedtheGovernmentalTortLiabilityAct(_GTLA_)ratherthanastatute  regardingtheTennesseeClaimsCommission,wefindHilltobeparticularlyinstructive.InHill,a l Germantown,Tennessee,policeofficerattemptedtoinitiateatrafficstop,butthevehicleaccelerated X away.Seeid.at236.Duringthechasethatensued,bothvehiclesreachedspeedsinexcessofninety D milesperhour.Seeid.Afterconferringwithheadquarters,theofficerswereinstructedtostopthe 0 pursuit,andtheycomplied.Seeid.Unfortunately,theothervehicledidnotslowdownandcrossed l thecenterline,collidingwithanothercar.Seeid._Walterine_ԀCrowderwasdrivingtheothercar,and X DeborahHilland_Amberly_ԀHillwerepassengers.CrowderandDeborahHillsubsequentlydiedat D thehospital.Seeid._Amberly_ԀHillsurvivedwithminorphysicalinjuries,butshewaslater 0 diagnosedassufferingfromposttraumaticstresssyndrome.Seeid.    GregoryHillandRonaldCrowderfiledwrongfuldeathclaimsagainsttheCityof  Germantownandtheofficerdrivingthepolicecar.Seeid.Thetrialcourtfoundthattheofficers  andtheCityofGermantownwerenegligent.Seeid.Damageswereassessedat$401,249.32forthe | deathof_Walterine_ԀCrowder,$621,071.46forthedeathofDeborahHill,and$151,270.00forthe h  personalinjuriesof_Amberly_ԀHill.Seeid.Thecourtfoundthedefendantstobethirtyfivepercent T! atfault.Seeid.Applyingthestatutorydamagescapinthe_GTLA_,thetrialcourtawarded @"  $130,000.00foreachofthewrongfuldeathclaims,whichwasthemaximumamountofrecovery ,#|! permittedunderthestatute. #  2      ׀ $h"   Plaintiffsappealed,andthiscourtaffirmedthetrialcourtsruling.Seeid.Amongother %@!$ things,weheldthatatthetimePlaintiffscausesofactionsaccrued,lossofconsortiumdamages &,"% wereunavailableinTennessee,andweheldthatJordancouldnotbeappliedretroactively.The  Plaintiffsappealedandoursupremecourtgrantedreview.    ThePlaintiffscontendedthatlossofconsortiumrepresentedaseparateinjuryunderthe t _GTLA_.Therefore,Plaintiffsarguedthatthe$130,000.00damagescapinthe_GTLA_Ԁshouldnot ` apply.AlthoughthesupremecourtheldthatJordancouldbeappliedretroactively,thecourtdeclined L  toremandPlaintiffscase.Seeid.at240.Specifically,oursupremecourtstatedthat: 8    RetroactiveapplicationofJordan,however,wouldnotincrease  ` Plaintiffsdamages.InJordanweexpresslystated, Thisholding  L  doesnotcreateanewcauseofactionbutmerelyrefinestheterm  8  pecuniaryvalue.Pursuanttoourstatute,lossofconsortium $  damagesinawrongfuldeathclaimarewhollycontainedwithinthe   awardforwrongfuldeath.Plaintiffshaveeachreceived$130,000,   themaximumallowableawardunderthe_GTLA_Ԁperinjuredperson.   Lossofconsortiumdamagescouldnotincreasethetotalamountof   theaward.Accordingly,wedeclinetoremandthesecasestothetrial p courttoconsidertheissueofinclusionoflossofconsortiumdamages \ inthepecuniaryvalueofdecedentslives. H   Id.(internalcitationsomitted).  p   Intheinstantcase,wefindthatthereisonlyoneclaimant!_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_.Therefore,wefind H that,consistentwithoursupremecourtsreasoninginJordanandHill,thereisonlyonecauseof 4 actionforwrongfuldeath,whichisthecauseofactionthedeceasedwouldhavehadifhehad   survived.Asaresult,wefindthattheCommissionererredinholdingthatMr.andMrs._Ki_Ԁwerealso   claimantsandwereentitledtorecoverlossofconsortiumundersection98307(e)oftheTennessee  Code.Themaximumrecoveryinthiscaseunder98307(e)is$300,000.00perclaimant.Dueto  ourholdingthat_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_Ԁistheonlyclaimant,wepartiallyreversethedecisionofthetrialcourt.    Sinceweholdthatthereisonlyonecauseofactioninthepresentcase,thatof_Jong_ԄDo_Ki_ X  forwrongfuldeath,thesecondissueis_pretermitted_. D!     h+&* Conclusion       Accordingly,fortheaforementionedreasons,weaffirminpartandreverseinpartthe  decisionoftheClaimsCommissioner.Onremand,theClaimsCommissionerisinstructedtostrike t the$300,000.00awardtoMr.andMrs._Ki_Ԁfortheirlossofconsortium.Costsonappealaretaxed ` onehalftotheAppellant,StateofTennessee,andonehalftotheAppellees,Mr.&Mrs.WooJun L  _Ki_,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. 8    #XXXX3##dXX#XXd   `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE