Opinion ID: 2265016
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: This Case Delaware Law Applies

Text: The factual circumstances which led this Court to depart from the general directive of Section 146 in Lake, and not to apply the law of the locale where the personal injury occurred, are not present in the case sub judice. The issue in this case does not involve the parameters of the personal injury protection afforded to a New Jersey domiciliary (Turner) by a New Jersey automobile insurance policy (her mother's). Turner has been paid in full by the PIP coverage of that New Jersey policy for her medical expenses. The issue in this case relates to what evidence of special damages is admissible in a Delaware court against a tortfeasor for a tort which occurred in Delaware. An examination of the four relevant contacts set forth in Section 145 of the Restatement of Conflicts vis-a-vis the principles of Section 6, [4] in the context of this case, compels the application of Delaware law. First, the personal injury to Turner occurred in Delaware. Second, the defendants' conduct (driving), which caused Turner's personal injury, occurred in Delaware. Third, although Turner and Wilborn were domiciled in New Jersey, they were both residing at college in Delaware. In fact, Turner was riding in the same vehicle with Wilborn because of her contacts with Wilborn in Delaware. Finally, the only relationship (the collision) among all of the parties (Turner, Wilborn, and Lipschultz) is centered in Delaware. A proper choice of law analysis reflects that the Superior Court erred, as a matter of law, in ruling that New Jersey bears a more significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties than Delaware. Delaware is the state where the injury and conduct occurred. Delaware is the only state which can provide a forum for Turner to bring a single action against both Wilborn and Lipschultz. [5] In the absence of a more significant relationship with another state, the general directive of Section 146 should have been followed by the Superior Court, [6] i.e., the law of Delaware, the state where the personal injury and the conduct occurred, should have been applied in this case.