Case Name: Paul Vita, Appellant, v. The Hertz Corporation, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2003-11-13
Citations: 1 A.D.3d 155
Docket Number: 
Parties: Paul Vita, Appellant, v The Hertz Corporation, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 155–156

Head Matter:
Paul Vita, Appellant, v The Hertz Corporation, Respondent.
[ 766 NYS2d 840]

Opinion:
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Milton Tingling, J.), entered or about December 13, 2002, which granted defendant's motion for summary judgment to the extent of finding that plaintiffs recovery against defendant, if any, should be limited pursuant to California's vicarious liability statute (Cal Veh Code § 17150, 17151) to $15,000, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Plaintiff was allegedly injured in an automobile accident in California in a vehicle rented to him in that state by defendant. Inasmuch as it is undisputed that the vehicle was never used or operated in New York, New York's vicarious liability statute (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 388) is expressly inapplicable and plaintiffs reliance upon it is unavailing. Application of the California statute, the only potentially applicable vicarious liability provision, was proper to assure that there would be some responsible party answerable in damages. Concur — Buckley, P.J., Mazzarelli, Andrias, Sullivan and Marlow, JJ.