Case Name: KELLY v. BYWATER
Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1969-06-26
Citations: 18 Mich. App. 238
Docket Number: Docket No. 5,744
Parties: KELLY v. BYWATER
Judges: Before: Gillis, P. J., and Levin and Bronson, JJ.
Reporter: Michigan appeals reports; cases decided in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
Volume: 18
Pages: 238–239

Head Matter:
KELLY v. BYWATER
Automobiles — Negligence—Guest Passenger — Infant—Instructions to Jury.
Refusal of trial court to instruct the jury that there is a presumption that a child between the ages of seven and fourteen does not possess sufficient ability, intelligence, or experience to become “guest” under the guest passenger statute held, proper (CLS 1961, § 257.401).
Reference for Points in Headnote
8 Am Jur 2d, Automobiles and Highway Traffic § 483.
Appeal from Oakland, Philip Pratt, J.
Submitted Division 2 April 8, 1969, at Lansing.
(Docket No. 5,744.)
Decided June 26, 1969.
Application for leave to appeal filed November 18, 1969.
Complaint by Warren Michael Kelly, Mary Jayne Kelly, and Timothy Kelly, a minor, by his next friend Mary Jayne Kelly, against George Bywater for injuries to Timothy Kelly resulting from an automobile accident. Verdict and judgment of no cause of action. Plaintiffs appeal.
Affirmed.
Nern & Alfs, for plaintiffs.
Sauer & Girard, for defendant.
Before: Gillis, P. J., and Levin and Bronson, JJ.

Opinion:
J. H. Gillis, P. J.
On August 12, 1956, plaintiff Timothy Kelly, then eight and one-half years of age, was a passenger in an automobile owned and operated by defendant. Plaintiff was injured when defendant's car went out of control and overturned. Plaintiff sued to recover for tbe injuries sustained and now appeals from a judgment following a jury verdict of no cause of action.
Plaintiff initially contends that the trial court erred in its instruction to the jury concerning -whether or not plaintiff was a guest passenger within the meaning of Michigan's guest passenger statute.
Plaintiff requested that the following instruction be given:
"The law presumes that a child between the ages of 7 and 14 does not possess sufficient ability, intelligence or experience to become a 'guest' under the guest passenger act."
The trial court refused to give the requested instruction. The statement of law in plaintiff's requested instruction was incorrect and the instruction as given was proper. Burhans v. Witbeck (1965), 375 Mich 253.
Plaintiff's allegation that the trial court's charge to the jury was confusing because it incorporated language of a Supreme Court opinion is without merit.
There is ample evidence to support the verdict and the trial court's instructions as to the law applicable to the evidence presented were thorough and fair.
Affirmed. Costs to appellee.
All concurred.
OLS 1961, § 257.401 (Stat Ann 1968 Rev § 9.2101).