Wrongful Death Complaint - Missouri

WRONGFUL DEATH / SURVIVAL PETITION

(Missouri Circuit Court – Template)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption & Style of Case

2. Preliminary Allegations
   2.1 Parties
   2.2 Jurisdiction and Venue
   2.3 Definitions

3. Factual Background

4. Causes of Action
   4.1 Count I – Wrongful Death (Negligence)
   4.2 Count II – Survival Action
   4.3 Count III – Punitive Damages (Optional)

5. Damages Allegations

6. Prayer for Relief
7. Jury Demand
8. Verification
9. Certificate of Service

1. CAPTION & STYLE OF CASE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF [COUNTY_NAME] COUNTY
STATE OF MISSOURI

PETITION FOR WRONGFUL DEATH AND SURVIVAL DAMAGES

2. PRELIMINARY ALLEGATIONS

2.1 Parties

1. Plaintiff. Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF_NAME] is an individual residing at [PLAINTIFF_ADDRESS] and is:
   a. the [relationship—e.g., spouse, child, parent, or court-appointed plaintiff ad litem] of [DECEDENT_NAME] (“Decedent”), who died on [DATE_OF_DEATH]; and
   b. an eligible beneficiary under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080.

2. Defendant. Defendant [DEFENDANT_NAME] is a [corporation / individual / partnership] organized under the laws of [STATE] with its principal place of business at [DEFENDANT_ADDRESS] and may be served at [SERVICE_ADDRESS] pursuant to Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 54.13(b)(3) (corporate/partnership/unincorporated-association defendant) or R. 54.13(b)(1) (individual defendant), as applicable.

2.2 Jurisdiction and Venue

3. This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under Mo. Const. art. V, § 14 and Mo. Rev. Stat. § 478.070, and this action is authorized by Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 537.080–.090.

4. Venue is proper in [COUNTY_NAME] County under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 508.010.4 and .11 because Decedent was first injured by the wrongful acts or negligent conduct alleged in this action in [COUNTY_NAME] County, Missouri.

2.3 Definitions

For pleading clarity, the following terms are used:
a. “Decedent” means [DECEDENT_NAME], deceased.
b. “Beneficiaries” means the persons entitled to recover under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080.

3. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

5. On or about [DATE_OF_INCIDENT], at or near [LOCATION], Defendant owed Decedent a duty of ordinary care to [describe duty, e.g., operate a motor vehicle safely / provide medical care in accordance with the standard of care].

6. Defendant breached that duty by [specific acts or omissions].

7. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s negligence, Decedent suffered severe injuries culminating in death on [DATE_OF_DEATH].

8. Decedent left surviving the following statutory beneficiaries, identified by the priority class under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080.1 to which each belongs:
   • [NAME], [relationship — e.g., spouse / child / lineal descendant of a deceased child / parent] (Class 1);
   • [NAME], [relationship — e.g., sibling or descendant of a sibling, pleaded ONLY if no Class 1 beneficiary exists] (Class 2, if applicable).

9. All statutory conditions precedent to filing this action have been satisfied or waived.

4. CAUSES OF ACTION

4.1 Count I – Wrongful Death (Negligence)

10. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1–9.

11. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080, Plaintiff, on behalf of all Beneficiaries, has a statutory cause of action for Decedent’s wrongful death.

12. Defendant’s negligent acts/omissions, detailed above, directly caused Decedent’s death.

13. Pursuant to Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.090, Plaintiff seeks recovery of:
    a. Pecuniary losses, including the value of Decedent’s services, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training, and support;
    b. Funeral and burial expenses;
    c. Reasonable value of medical expenses;
    d. Pre- and post-judgment interest as allowed by law; and
    e. If applicable — damages between the time of injury and death that Decedent could have recovered had death not ensued, and damages for any aggravating circumstances attending the death; and
    f. Costs of suit as allowed by law.

4.2 Count II – Survival Action

14. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1–13.

15. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 537.020–.021, all causes of action that accrued to Decedent prior to death survive and may be prosecuted by Plaintiff as personal representative.

16. Decedent endured conscious pain, suffering, and medical expenses between the time of injury and death for which Plaintiff is entitled to recover.

4.3 Count III – Punitive Damages (Optional – plead only when supported by facts)

17. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1–16.

18. Defendant acted with flagrant disregard for the safety of others, showing conscious indifference and reckless disregard warranting punitive damages to punish and deter such conduct.

5. DAMAGES ALLEGATIONS

19. Plaintiff seeks the full measure of damages allowed by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.090, including:
    • Economic and non-economic wrongful-death damages;
    • Survival damages (pain, suffering, medical bills);
    • Funeral and burial costs;
    • Pre-/post-judgment interest;
    • Costs of suit;
    • Punitive damages where proven; and
    • Any further relief the Court deems just and proper.

6. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant, jointly and severally where applicable, for:

A. Compensatory damages in a fair and reasonable sum exceeding $25,000;
B. Survival damages for Decedent’s conscious pain and suffering;
C. Funeral and burial expenses;
D. Punitive damages (if pled and subsequently permitted);
E. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;
F. Costs of court; and
G. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.

7. JURY DEMAND

Plaintiff hereby demands trial by jury on all triable issues pursuant to Mo. Const. art. I, § 22(a) and Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 69.01(a).

8. VERIFICATION

STATE OF MISSOURI, COUNTY OF [_____________], ss.

I, [PLAINTIFF_NAME], being duly sworn, depose and state that I have read the foregoing Petition; that the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

_________________________________
[PLAINTIFF_NAME], Plaintiff

Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___ day of __________, 20__.

_________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: __________

9. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that on the ___ day of __________, 20__, a true and correct copy of the foregoing Petition was served upon all counsel/parties of record by [method of service] pursuant to Mo. Sup. Ct. R. 43.01.

_________________________________
[ATTORNEY_NAME], #________
Attorney for Plaintiff
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

ATTORNEY SIGNATURE BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________
[ATTORNEY_NAME], Mo. Bar #________
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [EMAIL]
Counsel for Plaintiff