Opinion ID: 2379309
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liability Of James Egbert

Text: Lindsey also seeks to hold Egbert liable for his personal conduct as the owner of E & E. [34] Lindsey argues that Egbert committed negligence by: (1) agreeing to undertake repairs of the truck when E & E did not have adequate training and experience; (2) assigning Kramp to work on the truck given his lack of qualifications; (3) failing to obtain a service manual; (4) failing to detect and remedy the caged spring in the parking brake chamber and releasing the unrepaired truck to Wesgro; (5) failing to refer the truck to a qualified truck shop; and (6) failing to adequately train and supervise Kramp. Egbert sought summary judgment, supported by his own affidavit, on the ground that he performed no work on the truck while it was at E & E, did not supervise the work on the truck, and did not participate in the return of the truck to E & E. At his deposition, Egbert testified that he authorized the truck to be released to Wesgro knowing that the emergency brake was not functioning. [35] In addition, Egbert picked up a replacement hydraulic valve for the truck and delivered it to the garage, although it was not the right fit and was not used. Egbert did not give his mechanics any instructions concerning their work on the parking brake or any other part of the truck, and he did not perform any work on the truck himself. Lindsey's negligence claim against Egbert largely mirrors his claim against E & E, but he presents little evidence of Egbert's personal involvement for which Egbert might be held liable. Lindsey fails to rebut Egbert's statements in his affidavit that he did not personally perform any work on the truck and that he did not direct how work on the truck was to be performed. The extent of Egbert's personal involvement appears to be picking up an incorrect replacement part and instructing an employee that Wesgro was entitled to have their truck back when they asked for it. It is questionable whether based on this conduct, Egbert owed a personal duty of care to Wesgro or Lindsey. [36] But even if he did, that duty was not breached for the reasons discussed above. [37]