Opinion ID: 4349677
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Governing Law on Permissive Use

Text: Under Oklahoma law, permission to use a vehicle can be either express or implied. Farmers All. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Jones, 570 F.2d 1384, 1388 (10th Cir. 1978). Express permission is generally permission that is directly and distinctly stated. See 8 STEVEN PLITT ET AL., COUCH ON INSURANCE § 112:38 at 112-80 (3d ed. rev. 2014). Implied permission can result “from the relationship of the parties and their course of more than the compulsory statutory mandate of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 7-103(2)(b). 6 conduct in which they mutually acquiesced.” Farmers All., 570 F.2d at 1388 (internal quotation marks omitted). It can also arise “from a course of conduct pursued with knowledge of the facts for such time and in such manner as to signify clearly and convincingly an understanding consent which amounts in law to a grant of the privilege involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). But even where express or implied permission exists, a material deviation from the scope of this permission defeats a claim for non-compulsory omnibus liability coverage for a permittee’s negligent operation of the insured vehicle. See O’Neill, 54 P.3d at 116.