Wachocki v. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Dept.

by
This appeal involved a loss-of-consortium claim brought by Plaintiff Bill Wachocki (Bill), the adult brother of Jason Wachocki (Jason). Twenty-two-year-old Jason was killed when his vehicle was struck by a speeding van driven by Willie Hiley (Willie), a corrections officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Bill argued his loss- of-consortium claim was "improperly foreclosed" by the application of the “mutual dependence” standard which was originally developed for spousal-type relationships. Upon review, the Supreme Court clarified that recovery for loss of consortium may extend to sibling relationships; however, the facts presented in this case did not exhibit the mutual dependence required for recovery. The Court affirmed the appellate court's conclusion. View "Wachocki v. Bernalillo County Sheriff's Dept." on Justia Law