Opinion ID: 1833638
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: dog bites and use of automobile

Text: Farmers asserts that this court has specifically recognized that dog bites in vehicles arise out of the use of an automobile because this court in Dairyland Ins. Co. v. Esterling, supra , distinguished the facts of that case from two cases where dog bites were held to be causally connected with the use of a vehicle. However, the question of whether a dog bite in a vehicle arises out of the use of that vehicle was not before this court in Esterling. A case is not authority for any point not necessary to be passed on to decide the case or not specifically raised as an issue addressed by the court. Grammer v. Endicott Clay Products, 252 Neb. 315, 562 N.W.2d 332 (1997); In re Guardianship & Conservatorship of Bloomquist, 246 Neb. 711, 523 N.W.2d 352 (1994); Duggan v. Beermann, 245 Neb. 907, 515 N.W.2d 788 (1994). Although we have not been called upon to decide the issue of whether a dog bite that occurs in a vehicle arises out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of that vehicle, other courts have reached varying results. Most courts state the same rules regarding incidents arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a vehicle as those followed by this court. See, e.g., Heringlake v. State Farm Casualty, supra (discussing rules). Cases finding that dog bites in vehicles did arise out of the use of the vehicle have done so largely due to factual differences. See, Diehl v. Cumberland Mut. Fire Ins., 296 N.J.Super. 231, 686 A.2d 785 (1997); Farmers Ins. Co. of Arizona v. Till, 170 Ariz. 429, 825 P.2d 954 (Ariz.App.1991); Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co. v. Civil Service Emp. Ins. Co., 33 Cal. App.3d 26, 108 Cal.Rptr. 737 (1973). Generally, there must be some causal connection between the accident and the use of the vehicle. Heringlake v. State Farm Casualty, 74 Wash.App. 179, 872 P.2d 539 (1994). In cases finding that a dog bite did not arise from the use of an automobile, the common element among them is the view that something about the vehicle itself or attachments to the vehicle must have caused the accident. See, Century Ins. v. League Gen. Ins., 213 Mich.App. 114, 541 N.W.2d 272 (1995); Sanchez v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 878 P.2d 31 (Colo.App.1994); Underwriters Guar. Ins. Co. v. Therrien, 640 So.2d 234 (Fla.App.1994); Heringlake v. State Farm Casualty, supra ; Alvarino v. Allstate Ins. Co., 370 Pa.Super. 563, 537 A.2d 18 (1988); American States Ins. Co. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 484 So.2d 1363 (Fla.App.1986). Generally, the fact that the vehicle is regularly used for transporting a dog is not enough to establish a causal connection if something about the vehicle itself did not contribute to the action of the dog biting someone. See, Sanchez v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., supra ; Heringlake v. State Farm Casualty, supra . Cf., Transamerica v. Farmers Ins. Exchange, 463 N.W.2d 641 (N.D.1990); National Indemnity Co. v. Corbo, 248 So.2d 238 (Fla. App.1971). We conclude there must be a causal connection between the vehicle itself or its permanent attachments and the dog bite. This rule is in accord with the cases previously decided by this court finding that there must be a causal connection between an accident and the use of a vehicle. In particular, we require that something peculiar to the vehicle itself causally contribute to the accident. National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Bruecks, 179 Neb. 642, 139 N.W.2d 821 (1966). Recovery must be premised on something more than the fact that the vehicle was the location of the incident. Id. Accordingly, we adopt the rule that the use of a vehicle itself or its permanent attachments must bear a causal relationship to the incident. However, Farmers contends that the necessary causal relationship is present because Dale used the vehicle to transport the dog, the dog was chained to the vehicle, the dog was viewed while chained in the vehicle, the bite occurred in the vehicle, and Dale used the same vehicle to return home after the incident. These facts show nothing more than that the vehicle was the mere situs of the incident. Farmers has not adduced any evidence to show a causal connection between the vehicle or its attachments and the accident in this case. Absent such facts, summary judgment is appropriate because no issue of material fact exists.