{ "id": 226570, "name": "Dr. Raul RAMIREZ and Beverly Enterprises v. WHITE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT", "name_abbreviation": "Ramirez v. White County Circuit Court", "decision_date": "2001-01-18", "docket_number": "00-827", "first_page": "372", "last_page": "381", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "343 Ark. 372" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "38 S.W.3d 298" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "330 Ark. 121", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 298550 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/330/0121-01" ] }, { "cite": "337 Ark. 177", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1241035 ], "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/337/0177-01" ] }, { "cite": "288 Ark. 474", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8722360 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/288/0474-01" ] }, { "cite": "293 Ark. 128", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1869799 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/293/0128-01" ] }, { "cite": "324 Ark. 317", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 9159986 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/324/0317-01" ] }, { "cite": "229 Ark. 261", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1702727 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1958, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/229/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 Ark. 62", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1495699 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1906, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "65" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/79/0062-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 S.W. 1068", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "year": 1914, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "113 Ark. 380", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1537568 ], "year": 1914, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/113/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "286 Ark. 383", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8721126 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/286/0383-01" ] }, { "cite": "301 Ark. 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1885562 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/301/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "325 Ark. 226", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 369192 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/325/0226-01" ] }, { "cite": "341 Ark. 590", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1257782 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "quoting Rogers v. Tudor Ins. Co., 325 Ark. 226, 925 S.W.2d 395 (1996)" }, { "parenthetical": "quoting Rogers v. Tudor Ins. Co., 325 Ark. 226, 925 S.W.2d 395 (1996)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/341/0590-01" ] }, { "cite": "341 Ark. 12", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1257803 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/341/0012-01" ] }, { "cite": "334 Ark. 357", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1655524 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/334/0357-01" ] }, { "cite": "343 Ark. 237", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 226494 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/343/0237-01" ] }, { "cite": "341 Ark. 939", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1257774 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/341/0939-01" ] }, { "cite": "232 Ark. 173", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1694025 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/232/0173-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 S.W.2d 48", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "year": 1927, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "175 Ark. 626", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1403410 ], "year": 1927, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/175/0626-01" ] }, { "cite": "241 Ark. 533", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1724150 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/241/0533-01" ] }, { "cite": "335 Ark. 272", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 862797 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "279" }, { "page": "4" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/335/0272-01" ] }, { "cite": "340 Ark. 263", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1365308 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/340/0263-01" ] }, { "cite": "306 Ark. 4", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1900926 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/306/0004-01" ] }, { "cite": "307 Ark. 34", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1902463 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1991, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/307/0034-01" ] }, { "cite": "314 Ark. 49", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1912806 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/314/0049-01" ] }, { "cite": "340 Ark. 547", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1365305 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/340/0547-01" ] }, { "cite": "321 Ark. 331", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1449579 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/321/0331-01" ] }, { "cite": "241 Ark. 641", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1723894 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/241/0641-01" ] }, { "cite": "285 Ark. 124", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1877665 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/285/0124-01" ] }, { "cite": "326 Ark. 256", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 12021853 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/326/0256-01" ] }, { "cite": "340 Ark. 311", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1365157 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/340/0311-01" ] }, { "cite": "342 Ark. 128", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1342348 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/342/0128-01" ] }, { "cite": "315 Ark. 333", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1910517 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/315/0333-01" ] }, { "cite": "309 Ark. 206", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1906106 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/309/0206-01" ] }, { "cite": "316 Ark. 290", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1907712 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "quoting National Sec. Fire & Cas. Co. v. Poskey, 309 Ark. 206, 828 S.W.2d 836 (1992)" }, { "parenthetical": "quoting National Sec. Fire & Cas. Co. v. Poskey, 309 Ark. 206, 828 S.W.2d 836 (1992)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/316/0290-01" ] }, { "cite": "326 Ark. 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 12021646 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/326/0217-01" ] }, { "cite": "334 Ark. 111", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1655476 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/334/0111-01" ] }, { "cite": "336 Ark. 122", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 51319 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "125" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/336/0122-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "weight": 11, "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(b)" }, { "page": "(b)" }, { "page": "(2)(b)" }, { "page": "(b)" }, { "page": "(2)", "parenthetical": "b" }, { "page": "(d)" }, { "page": "(b)" }, { "page": "(b)" }, { "page": "(b)" }, { "page": "(d)" }, { "page": "(b)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 Ark. 493", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1443885 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/317/0493-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 827, "char_count": 17264, "ocr_confidence": 0.765, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.5520720497158907e-07, "percentile": 0.9245262947762591 }, "sha256": "259b497dab5a11209660e35b6aa0ce8cb42003951224be4eb2604b7b46a96b90", "simhash": "1:1342c667702f40d9", "word_count": 2962 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:43:01.373813+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Dr. Raul RAMIREZ and Beverly Enterprises v. WHITE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JIM HANNAH, Justice.\nThis case arises from the death of Iris Harvey. Dr. Raul Ramirez and Beverly Enterprises-Arkansas, Inc, d/b/a/ Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center-Searcy, petition this court for a writ of prohibition against the White County Circuit Court to prevent further prosecution of a wrongful death action, White County Circuit Court case number 99-423, David Harvey, as next of kin heir at law of Iris Harvey, Deceased v. Dr. Raul Ramirez and Beverly Enterprises-Arkansas, Inc, d/b/a/ Beverly Health and Rehabilitation Center-Searcy. David Harvey, plaintiff in the action below, has responded. This petition was filed in this court on July 18, 2000. On September 7, 2000, this court heard and granted a petition that this matter be submitted as a case.\nPetitioners assert the circuit court lacks jurisdiction because plaintiff David Harvey is without standing to sue given he is only one of Iris Harvey\u2019s heirs at law and all heirs at law must be joined in the lawsuit before heirs at law may bring a wrongful death action. David Harvey affirms that the issue before this court is whether a single heir at law can bring an action for wrongful death when there are other heirs at law who have not been joined. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Ark. Sup. Ct. R. l-2(a)(3), as a petition for a writ of prohibition to be directed to a circuit court. We conclude that under the current wrongful death statute, where a wrongful death action is pursued by heirs at law, all heirs at law must be joined in the action. Therefore, as only one of the heirs at law, David lacks standing under the wrongful death statute. This deprives the circuit court of jurisdiction. We hold that the writ of prohibition will lie.\nFacts\nOn May 25, 1995, Iris Harvey died while in the care of petitioners. On May 14, 1997, Iris\u2019 husband David filed a complaint as \u201cNext of Kin and Husband of Iris Harvey, Deceased,\u201d asserting his wife had died as a result of negligence in her care, and that he had suffered mental anguish as a result of his wife\u2019s untimely death.\nOn May 14, 1995, Iris was in the care of Beverly Enterprises, when she was admitted to Central Arkansas Hospital by Dr. Raul Ramirez due to symptoms of congestive heart failure. David asserts that his wife\u2019s blood potassium level was within normal limits when she was admitted, but that by the time she was released back into the care of Beverly Enterprises on May 19, 1995, her potassium level was abnormally high and untreated. He further alleges Dr. Ramirez prescribed medication during Iris\u2019 therapy that further elevated her blood potassium level. He alleges in addition that after release from the hospital, Dr. Ramirez and Beverly Enterprises failed to properly monitor her potassium level and to order and or provide necessary electrolytes. David alleges that the negligence of Dr. Ramirez and Beverly Enterprises was the proximate cause of his wife\u2019s death.\nOn October 21, 1997, petitioner Ramirez filed a motion for summary judgment asserting David lacked standing to pursue his wrongful death action because he was but one of the heirs at law and that the statute requires all heirs at law to be joined in the action. David filed a motion to substitute himself as administrator for the estate, as the party plaintiff to replace David Harvey as an individual, but the motion was denied. Summary judgment was granted as to all heirs at law excepting David. Thus, the trial court found that David\u2019s action as an heir at law survived. No appeal was taken from these decisions of the trial court. However, shortly thereafter David non-suited the action and re-filed it as \u201cDavid Harvey, as Next Kin and Heir at Law of Iris Harvey, Deceased\u201d on December 13, 1999. Petitioners again moved for summary judgment, again asserting David lacked standing. The trial court ruled as it had the first time, finding David could sue as an individual heir at law. Petitioners now seek a writ of prohibition alleging the trial court erred in this decision and a lack of standing leaves the trial court wholly without jurisdiction.\nWrit of Prohibition\nPetitioners seek a writ to stop the circuit court from proceeding in this case because they allege there is no jurisdiction due to a lack of standing by plaintiff in the case in the trial court below. The party seeking to proceed by petition for writ of prohibition bears the burden of demonstrating that it is clearly entitled to so proceed. Nucor-Yamato Steel Company v. Circuit Court, 317 Ark. 493, 878 S.W.2d 745 (1994). Petitioners argue that under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b) (1987), a wrongful death action may be pursued only by all the heirs at law, and not by just one as is being attempted in this case, that the plaintiff below lacks standing, and that, therefore, the trial court lacks jurisdiction. Thus, the issue is the legal question of whether the trial court has jurisdiction to hear David\u2019s complaint.\nIn State v. Circuit Court of Lincoln County, 336 Ark. 122, 984 S.W.2d 412 (1999), this court stated:\nA writ of prohibition is extraordinary relief which is appropriate only when the trial court is wholly without jurisdiction. Henderson Specialties, Inc. v. Boone County Circuit Court, 334 Ark. 111, 971 S.W.2d 234 (1998); Nucor Holding Co. v. Rinkines, 326 Ark. 217, 931 S.W.2d 426 (1996). The writ is appropriate only when there is no other remedy, such as an appeal, available. Henderson Specialties, Inc. v. Boone County Circuit Court, supra; West Memphis Sch. Dist. No. 4 v. Circuit Court, 316 Ark. 290, 871 S.W.2d 368 (1994) (quoting National Sec. Fire & Cas. Co. v. Poskey, 309 Ark. 206, 828 S.W.2d 836 (1992)). When deciding whether prohibition will lie, we confine our review to the pleadings in the case. The Wise Company, Inc. v. Clay Circuit, 315 Ark. 333, 869 S.W.2d 6 (1993).\nSee also, Willis v. Circuit Court of Phillips County, 342 Ark. 128, 27 S.W.3d 372 (2000); Pike v. Benton Circuit Court, 340 Ark. 311, 10 S.W.3d 447 (2000). Jurisdiction is the power of the court to hear and determine the subject matter in controversy between the parties. Circuit Court of Lincoln County, 336 Ark. at 125.\nProhibition is a proper remedy when the jurisdiction of the trial court depends upon a legal rather than a factual question. Western Waste Indus. v. Purifoy, 326 Ark. 256, 930 S.W.2d 348 (1996); Fausett and Co. v. Bogard, 285 Ark. 124, 685 S.W.2d 153 (1985); Titsworth v. Mayfield, fudge, 241 Ark. 641, 409 S.W.2d 500 (1966). When jurisdiction depends on the establishment of facts or turns on facts which are in dispute, the issue is one correctly determined by the trial court. Steve Standridge Insurance Inc. v. Langston, 321 Ark. 331, 900 S.W.2d 955 (1995).\nThe issue before the trial court was an interpretation of Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b), and therefore was a legal question. Petitioners are not entitled to an appeal because they would be appealing from denial of a motion for summary judgment. \u201cWe have repeatedly held that the denial of a motion for summary judgment is not subject to review or appeal.\u201d Bharodia v. Pledger, 340 Ark. 547, 11 S.W.3d 540 (2000); Daniels v. Colonial Ins. Co., 314 Ark. 49, 857 S.W.2d 162 (1993); Hastings v. Planters and Stockmen Bank, 307 Ark. 34, 818 S.W.2d 239 (1991); McElroy v. Grisham, 306 Ark. 4, 810 S.W.2d 933 (1991). So, if there is no jurisdiction, the only way petitioners can obtain review by this court is by way of a petition for a writ of prohibition. Therefore, a petition for a writ of prohibition is a proper method to obtain review of jurisdiction by this court.\nThe issue before the court is whether an individual heir at law can bring a wrongful death action when he or she is not the only heir at law. The Wrongful Death Statute is Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 lb-62-102. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(2)(b) provides:\nEvery action shall be brought by and in the name of the personal representative of the deceased person. If there is no personal representative, then the action shall be brought by the heirs at law of the deceased person.\nStatutory Construction\nThe question becomes one of statutory construction.\nThis Court in Babb v. Matlock, 340 Ark. 263, 9 S.W.3rd 508 (2000), stated:\nThus, because the action (wrongful death) is a statutory creation and is in derogation of or at variance with the common law, we construe the wrongful-death statute strictly. Id. Strict construction necessarily \u2018requires that nothing be taken as intended that is not clearly expressed.\u2019 Lawhon Farm Servs. v. Brown, 335 Ark. 272, 279, 984 S.W.2d 1, 4 (1998). Given that narrow standard, we must reject Appellants\u2019 first argument, that we should broadly construe the class of statutory beneficiaries to include persons not specifically named. Babb, supra.\nThis court in McGinty v. Ballentine, 241 Ark. 533,408 S.W.2d 891 (1966), stated:\n[ A]t common law no cause of action survived for wrongful death, and the only cause of action that arises is because of wrongful death statutes, which must be strictly adhered to in determining the cause of action, the parties, and the period of limitations.\nIn Smith v. Missouri Pac. Rd. Co., 175 Ark. 626, 1 S.W.2d 48 (1927), this court stated that as a cause of action created by statute, \u201cit only exists in the manner and form and for the time prescribed by the statutes of the State which created it....\u201d See also, Vines v. Ark. Power & Light Co., 232 Ark. 173, 337 S.W.2d 722 (1960).\nThe trial court interpreted Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b) and review of the court\u2019s statutory interpretation is de novo. Stephens v. Arkansas Sch. for the Blind, 341 Ark. 939, 20 S.W.3d 397 (2000); Burnette v. Perkins & Assocs., 343 Ark. 237, 33 S.W.3d 145 (2000).\nThe plain-meaning rule is applied first. This court has said that in determining the meaning of a statute, the first rule is to construe it just as it reads, giving the words their ordinary and usually accepted meaning in common language. Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Ellison, 334 Ark. 357, 974 S.W.2d 464 (1998). If the language of a statute is clear and unambiguous, and conveys a clear and definite meaning, there is no occasion for resorting to rules of statutory interpretation. Worth v. City of Rogers, 341 Ark. 12, 14 S.W.3d 471 (2000).\nIf the plain meaning is not evident from the statute itself, then interpretation must be undertaken. \u201cThe basic rule of statutory interpretation to which all other interpretative guides must yield is the necessity to give effect to the intent of the General Assembly.\u201d Smith v. Smith, 341 Ark. 590, 19 S.W.3d 590 (2000) (quoting Rogers v. Tudor Ins. Co., 325 Ark. 226, 925 S.W.2d 395 (1996)).\nStanding\nThe facts are not in dispute. At the time the first complaint was filed on May 14, 1997, no estate had been opened for Iris Harvey. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(2) (b) requires that in the absence of a personal representative, the action shall be brought by the heirs at law. Iris Harvey had three heirs at law, her husband David, Randy Harvey, a son now thirty-six years of age, and Cynthia Casey, a daughter now forty-three years of age. Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(d), all three individuals were beneficiaries under the wrongful death statute. The widower, David, filed the original complaint as David Harvey as Next of Kin and Husband of Iris Harvey, Deceased. The lawsuit was filed by an heir at law but not by all of the heirs at law. After David took a voluntary non-suit, David refiled the complaint on December 13, 1999, as David Harvey, as Next of Kin and Heir at Law of Iris Harvey, Deceased. Again, this lawsuit was filed by an heir at law, but not by all of the heirs at law.\nIn Brewer v. Lacefield, 301 Ark. 358, 784 S.W.2d 156 (1990), this court in discussing fees sought by attorneys who represented the heirs at law in an action where the wrongful death action had been prosecuted by a personal representative, stated, \u201c[T]he wrongful death code provisions do not create an individual right in any beneficiary to bring suit.\u201d Brewer, 301 Ark. at 362 (citing Cude v. Cude, 286 Ark. 383, 691 S.W.2d 866 (1985)).\nIn Thompson v. Southern Lumber Co., 113 Ark. 380, 168 S.W. 1068 (1914), this court stated, in citing McBride v. Berman, 79 Ark. 62 (1906), \u201cIt follows from these decisions as an indispensable prerequisite to the maintenance of a suit under the statute, supra, that the widow and heirs of the person killed by the wrongful act of another shall all be made parties.\u201d In McBride, this court stated, \u201cThat in default of a personal representative an action brought under Lord Campbell\u2019s Act must make the widow (if there be one) and the heirs at law parties thereto.\u201d McBride, 79 Ark. at 65. A review of the statutes applicable at the time of these cases shows Kirby\u2019s Digest, 1903, was the current law for Thompson and McBride. Kirby\u2019s Digest, sec. 6290 (1903), in relevant part provides,\nEvery such action shall be brought by, and in the name of the personal representative of such deceased person, and if there be no personal representative, then the same may be brought by the heirs at law of such deceased person....\nThe present statute provides in relevant part that if there is no personal representative, \u201cthen the action shall be brought by the heirs at law of the deceased person.\u201d Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b). The language is quite similar.\nIn determining the meaning of a statute, this court will construe it just as it reads, giving the words their ordinary and usually accepted meaning in common language. If the language of a statute is clear and unambiguous, and conveys a clear and definite meaning, there is no occasion for resorting to rules of statutory interpretation. Worth v. City of Rogers, 341 Ark. 12, 14 S.W.3d 471 (2000). The statute states the action \u201cshall be brought by the heirs at law of the deceased person.\u201d In the original act, the language was \u201cmay be brought by the heirs at law....\u201d Mansfield\u2019s Digest, sec. 5226. Act 255 of 1957 first used \u201cshall be brought by the heirs at law....\u201d Ark.\u2019 Stat. Ann. \u00a7 27-907 (Repl. 1962). This change in the language is from \u201cmay\u201d to \u201cshall.\u201d The word \u201cshall\u201d is now considered mandatory in spite of earlier cases that indicated otherwise. Earlier this court stated;\n[ T] hough ordinarily the word \u201cshall\u201d is mandatory, and the word \u201cmay\u201d is directory, they are often used interchangeably in legislation. Arkansas State Highway Comm\u2019n v. Mabry, 229 Ark. 261, 315 S.W.2d 900 (1958). In Mabry, this court recognized that to carry out the legislature\u2019s intent, the word \u201cshall\u201d may, in certain circumstances, be construed as the equivalent of the word \u201cmay.\u201d This court concluded that if the language of the statute, considered as a whole and with due regard to its nature and object, reveals that the legislature intended the word \u201cshall\u201d to be directory, it should be given that meaning.\n* * *\nSince Mabry, this court has consistently held that the use of the word \u201cshall\u201d in a statute means that the legislature intended mandatory compliance with the statute unless such an interpretation would lead to an absurdity. See Hattison v. State, 324 Ark. 317, 920 S.W.2d 849 (1996); Klinger v. City of Fayetteville, 293 Ark. 128, 732 S.W.2d 859 (1987); Loyd v. Knight, 288 Ark. 474, 706 S.W.2d 393 (1986).\nFulmer v. State, 337 Ark. 177, S.W.2d 700 (1999).\nDavid relies on Murrell v. Springdale Mem. Hosp., 330 Ark. 121, 952 S.W.2d 153 (1997), for the proposition that an individual heir at law can bring suit for wrongful death when there are other heirs at law. In Murrell, the widower filed suit as the surviving spouse and subsequently took a voluntary non-suit. There were also three surviving children. The widower refiled the lawsuit as the personal representative of the estate and as the surviving spouse. The widower died and the couple\u2019s son was appointed successor administrator. We held that the widower\u2019s action for wrongful death of his wife did not survive his death, and that the children\u2019s claim was barred by the statute of limitation because they were not parties to the first action. This court\u2019s statement in Murrell that \u201cMelvin Dale Murrell\u2019s initial complaint, filed prior to the opening of Bonnie Marie Murrell\u2019s estate was appropriately brought according to Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b) (1987)\u201d is merely dicta and was not the holding in the case. This statement was an incorrect statement of the law\nThe language of Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b) is clear and unambiguous. If there is no personal representative of the deceased person, then the action shall be brought by all the heirs at law of the deceased. In this case, there were three heirs at law: David, the widower, and the two children. See Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(d). The Wrongful Death Statute, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 16-62-102(b), requires the action be brought by all of the heirs at law. David has no standing to bring this action.\nWe grant the Writ of Prohibition.", "type": "majority", "author": "JIM HANNAH, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Anderson, Murphy & Hopkins, L.L.P., by: David A. Littleton, for petitioner Dr. Raul Ramirez.", "Armstrong Allen, P.L.L.C., by: Charles A. Banks, E.B. \u201cChip\u201d Chiles, IV, and Paul Woods, for petitioner Beverly Enterprises.", "Timothy O. Dudley, for respondent." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Dr. Raul RAMIREZ and Beverly Enterprises v. WHITE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT\n00-827\n38 S.W.3d 298\nSupreme Court of Arkansas\nOpinion delivered January 18, 2001\nAnderson, Murphy & Hopkins, L.L.P., by: David A. Littleton, for petitioner Dr. Raul Ramirez.\nArmstrong Allen, P.L.L.C., by: Charles A. Banks, E.B. \u201cChip\u201d Chiles, IV, and Paul Woods, for petitioner Beverly Enterprises.\nTimothy O. Dudley, for respondent." }, "file_name": "0372-01", "first_page_order": 398, "last_page_order": 407 }