WRONGFUL DEATH & SURVIVAL ACTION COMPLAINT
(Texas State Court Template)
[// GUIDANCE: This template is drafted for filing in a Texas district court and is compliant with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (“TRCP”) and the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code (“TCPRC”). All bracketed items in ALL-CAPS should be customized prior to filing. Where optional language appears, delete what does not apply. Check the local rules of the chosen county for additional or conflicting requirements (e.g., standing discovery orders, certificate of conference, e-filing formatting).]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Document Header
- Discovery Control Plan & Claim for Damages (TRCP 47)
- Parties
- Jurisdiction & Venue
- Capacity, Standing & Statutory Beneficiaries
- Factual Background
- Causes of Action
7.1. Wrongful Death (TCPRC § 71.002 & § 71.004)
7.2. Survival Action (TCPRC § 71.021) - Damages & Statutory Caps
- Conditions Precedent
- Jury Demand (Tex. Const. art. I, § 15; TRCP 216)
- Request for Disclosure (TRCP 194)
- Preservation of Evidence Notice
- Prayer
- Signature Block
- Verification / Declaration (if required)
1. DOCUMENT HEADER
CAUSE NO. [__]
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF [__] COUNTY, TEXAS
[____] JUDICIAL DISTRICT
[PLAINTIFF 1], INDIVIDUALLY AND AS [RELATIONSHIP] OF THE ESTATE OF [DECEDENT],
AND [PLAINTIFF 2], [ET AL.],
Plaintiffs,
v.
[DEFENDANT 1] and [DEFENDANT 2],
Defendants.
PLAINTIFFS’ ORIGINAL PETITION FOR WRONGFUL DEATH AND SURVIVAL ACTION
Effective Date: Upon filing
Governing Law: Texas Wrongful Death & Survival Statutes
2. DISCOVERY CONTROL PLAN & CLAIM FOR DAMAGES
2.1 Discovery Level. Plaintiffs intend that discovery be conducted under TRCP Level [1/2/3].
2.2 Damages Pleading. Pursuant to TRCP 47(c), Plaintiffs seek monetary relief [of $250,000 or less / over $250,000 but not more than $1,000,000 / over $1,000,000], exclusive of interest and costs.
[// GUIDANCE: Select the appropriate monetary range. TRCP 47 requires one of five defined categories.]
3. PARTIES
3.1 Plaintiffs.
(a) [PLAINTIFF 1], an individual and [relationship—e.g., surviving spouse] of the Decedent, residing at [ADDRESS].
(b) [PLAINTIFF 2], [child/parent] of the Decedent, residing at [ADDRESS].
(c) [ESTATE REPRESENTATIVE], in capacity as Independent Administrator of the Estate of [DECEDENT], as authorized under Letters Testamentary issued by the Probate Court of [COUNTY], Texas, Cause No. [____].
3.2 Defendants.
(a) [DEFENDANT 1], a Texas corporation with its principal office at [ADDRESS], may be served through its registered agent: [NAME & ADDRESS].
(b) [DEFENDANT 2], an individual resident of [COUNTY], Texas, may be served at [ADDRESS] or wherever found.
4. JURISDICTION & VENUE
4.1 This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction because the amount in controversy exceeds the minimum jurisdictional limits and because wrongful death and survival claims are within the Court’s original jurisdiction.
4.2 Venue is proper in [__] County under TCPRC § 15.002(a)(1) because all or a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to these claims occurred in this county.
5. CAPACITY, STANDING & STATUTORY BENEFICIARIES
5.1 Plaintiffs bring this action under TCPRC § 71.004 on behalf of all statutorily eligible beneficiaries, specifically the Decedent’s spouse, children, and parents.
5.2 The Estate’s claims are asserted under TCPRC § 71.021 by [ESTATE REPRESENTATIVE], duly appointed and qualified.
5.3 No other person not joined herein is known to have a superior right to recover for Decedent’s injury or death.
6. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
6.1 On or about [DATE], at approximately [TIME], Decedent was [describe activities] at [LOCATION] when Defendants negligently [describe acts/omissions], causing fatal injuries to Decedent.
6.2 Prior to death, Decedent experienced conscious pain and suffering and incurred medical expenses totaling approximately $[AMOUNT]. Decedent died on [DATE OF DEATH].
6.3 At all relevant times, Defendants owed duties of reasonable care to Decedent and the public, which they breached by [specific negligent actions].
7. CAUSES OF ACTION
7.1 Wrongful Death (TCPRC §§ 71.002, 71.004)
7.1.1 Duty & Breach. Defendants owed Decedent a duty of ordinary care, including but not limited to [enumerate statutory/regulatory duties if applicable]. Defendants breached these duties by [acts/omissions].
7.1.2 Proximate Cause. Defendants’ breaches proximately caused Decedent’s death and Plaintiffs’ resulting damages.
7.1.3 Wrongful Death Damages. Plaintiffs seek:
(a) Pecuniary loss (loss of care, maintenance, support, services, advice, counsel, and contributions of pecuniary value);
(b) Loss of companionship and society;
(c) Mental anguish;
(d) Loss of inheritance; and
(e) Exemplary damages for willful acts or gross negligence under TCPRC § 71.009 and, if applicable, subject to statutory caps under TCPRC § 41.008.
7.2 Survival Action (TCPRC § 71.021)
7.2.1 By and through the Estate, Plaintiffs seek all damages Decedent could have recovered had he/she lived, including:
(a) Conscious pain and suffering;
(b) Medical expenses;
(c) Funeral and burial expenses;
(d) Property damage; and
(e) Pre- and post-judgment interest.
8. DAMAGES & STATUTORY CAPS
8.1 Plaintiffs plead for actual damages in an amount within the jurisdictional limits, together with exemplary damages as permitted.
8.2 Plaintiffs acknowledge exemplary damages are subject to TCPRC § 41.008’s cap of the greater of:
(1) $200,000; or
(2) Two times the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to any noneconomic damages found by the jury, not to exceed $750,000.
[// GUIDANCE: Adjust paragraph 8.2 for medical liability claims if Chapter 74 applies, which imposes different limits (§ 74.301).]
9. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
All conditions precedent to Plaintiffs’ claims have been performed, have occurred, or have been waived. TRCP 54.
10. JURY DEMAND
Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury pursuant to Tex. Const. art. I, § 15 and TRCP 216, and tender the requisite jury fee. Plaintiffs expressly do not waive their constitutional right to trial by jury.
11. REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE (TRCP 194)
Under TRCP 194, Plaintiffs request Defendants disclose, within 30 days of service, the information or material described in Rule 194.2.
12. PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE NOTICE
Defendants are hereby given notice to preserve all evidence relating to the subject incident, including electronic records, pending litigation hold instructions. Failure to do so may result in sanctions for spoliation.
13. PRAYER
WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Plaintiffs respectfully request that Defendants be cited to appear and answer, and that upon final trial, Plaintiffs recover:
a. Actual damages as proven at trial;
b. Exemplary damages to punish and deter;
c. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the highest lawful rates;
d. Costs of court; and
e. All other relief, at law or in equity, to which Plaintiffs may be justly entitled.
14. SIGNATURE BLOCK
Respectfully submitted,
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE] | [FAX] | [EMAIL]
By: ______
[ATTORNEY NAME], State Bar No. [__]
ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFFS
15. VERIFICATION / DECLARATION (OPTIONAL OR REQUIRED BY LOCAL RULE)
STATE OF TEXAS §
COUNTY OF [____] §
BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this day personally appeared [NAME], who, after being duly sworn, stated under oath that the facts set forth in the foregoing Petition are within his/her personal knowledge and are true and correct.
[NAME], Affiant
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me on this ___ day of ____, 20__.
Notary Public, State of Texas
My Commission Expires: ______
[// GUIDANCE: Texas does not generally require verification of a complaint. Include this section only if verification is necessary under a specific statute or local rule.]