Opinion ID: 1454266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Interspousal Tort Immunity

Text: Finally, I dissent from the majority opinion because it completely omits reference to the doctrine of interspousal tort immunity, which was extensively briefed and relied upon by the parties on appeal. This Court thoroughly discussed the doctrine of interspousal tort immunity in Stoker v. Stoker, 616 P.2d 590 (Utah 1980). In reaching a decision to repudiate the doctrine of interspousal tort immunity, this Court relied upon Utah Code Ann. § 30-2-4 (1974), which states in pertinent part that a married woman may prosecute and defend all actions for the preservation and protection of her rights and property as if unmarried. The Court also pointed out that the statute was enacted in derogation of the common law and must therefore be liberally construed in order to meet its purpose and to promote justice. Id. at 591; Utah Code Ann. § 68-3-2 (1986). The Court in Stoker emphasized the broad scope of its analysis by proclaiming, Our holding today reaffirms the Legislative abrogation of Interspousal Immunity. [1] Id. at 592. This Court has also rejected the notion that the potential for collusion is a sufficient rationale for prohibiting certain kinds of litigation. See Malan v. Lewis, 693 P.2d 661, 674 (Utah 1984); Call, 712 P.2d at 235-36. As this Court stated in Call: Furthermore, we are not persuaded that the collusion rationale that the Court relied upon in the Kay [ State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Co. v. Kay, 26 Utah 2d 195, 487 P.2d 852 (1972); Kay v. Kay, 30 Utah 2d 94, 513 P.2d 1372 (1973)] opinions remains an adequate justification for the household exclusion clause. In Malan v. Lewis, Utah, 693 P.2d 661, 674 (1984), this Court determined that the Utah Guest Statute is unconstitutional and found the collusion rationale to be insufficient to deny coverage to innocent guest passengers injured in automobile accidents. In addition, the risk of collusion in intrafamily litigation has never been accepted by this Court as grounds for endorsing the parent-child immunity doctrine, which has likewise never been established by the legislature. Call, 712 P.2d at 235. The Court in Call also agreed with the Kansas Supreme Court, which pointed out that the possibility of collusion exists to a certain extent in any case. Everyday [sic] we depend on juries and trial judges to sift evidence in order to determine the facts and arrive at proper verdicts. Experience has shown that the courts are quite adequate for this task. Id. at 235 (quoting Nocktonick v. Nocktonick, 227 Kan. 758, 768-69, 611 P.2d 135, 142 (1980)). Interspousal tort immunity would therefore not be a barrier to Kathleen Mastbaum's efforts to recover from her husband. For the reasons set forth above, I would reverse and enter judgment in favor of appellants on public policy grounds. Apart from questions of public policy, however, I would still reverse and remand to the lower court for further evidentiary proceedings. In either instance, the doctrine of interspousal tort immunity would not pose a barrier to proceedings between the Mastbaums.