Sec. 5. (a) This section applies when:

(1) a person obtains a judgment for personal injuries against a person, company, or corporation in a trial court;

Terms Used In Indiana Code 34-9-3-5

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Judgment: means all final orders, decrees, and determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions may issue. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) the person, company, or corporation against whom or which the judgment was obtained appeals to the supreme court or the court of appeals; and

(3) the judgment is reversed by the supreme court or the court of appeals, with a new trial granted to the appellant.

     (b) If a person who obtains a judgment dies:

(1) pending the appeal; or

(2) before a new trial after the reversal;

the claim for personal injuries survives and may be prosecuted by the representative of the decedent, as other claims are prosecuted for and on behalf of decedents’ estates.

[Pre-1998 Recodification Citation: 34-4-21-1.]

As added by P.L.1-1998, SEC.4.