# Rodriguez v. Bethlehem Steel Corp.

Canonical: https://californiapersonalinjurylaws.com/cases/rodriguez/

Supreme Court of California, 1974. 12 Cal.3d 382, pp. 408–409.

Reviewed by Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin; publisher reported approval 2026-11-04. The original review date was not supplied.

## Case background

A wife brought a claim after her husband suffered a severe injury at work. The lower court had dismissed her claim about harm to married life.

## Question before the court

Could a spouse bring a claim for harm to the marriage caused by a third party’s injury to the other spouse?

## What the court decided

The court allowed the claim to proceed. It kept the spouse’s relationship loss distinct from losses paid in the injured person’s own claim.

## Limits

It did not give every relative a claim. It also rejected paying twice for the same nursing loss.

## Opinion

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/12/382.html