Opinion ID: 2634605
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Rental Car Damage Recovery is a Claim or Other Indebtedness Under the Act

Text: The word claim is not defined in the Act nor has the term been interpreted by case law in accordance with the Act. Interpreting statutes is a question of law, over which this Court exercises free review. Robison v. Bateman-Hall, Inc., 139 Idaho 207, 210, 76 P.3d 951, 954 (2003). When the language of the statute is unambiguous, the Court will give the language its plain meaning and refrain from applying statutory rules of construction. Sweeney v. Otter, 119 Idaho 135, 138, 804 P.2d 308, 311 (1990). If the words are in common use, they should be given the same meaning in a statute as they have among the people who rely on and uphold the statute. Nagel v. Hammond, 90 Idaho 96, 100, 408 P.2d 468, 472 (1965). Every word, clause and sentence should be given effect, if possible. In re Permit No. 36-7200, 121 Idaho 819, 822, 828 P.2d 848, 851 (1992). When construing a statute, its words must be given their plain, usual and ordinary meaning. Id. This Court, however, has adopted the interpretation of the Seventh Circuit Court that examined the term claim as used in the Bankruptcy Act: The word `claims' includes all demands of whatsoever character against the debtor or its property, whether secured or unsecured, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed or contingent. Garren v. Saccomanno 86 Idaho 268, 274, 385 P.2d 396, 399-400 (1963), citing In Re Federal Facilities Realty Trust, 220 F.2d 495 (7th Cir.1955). BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY 240 (7th ed.1999) defines claim as follows: 1. The aggregate of operative facts giving rise to a right enforceable by a court. 2. The assertion of an existing right; any right to payment or to an equitable remedy, even if contingent or provisional. 3. A demand for money or property to which one asserts a right. 4. An interest or remedy recognized at law; the means by which a person can obtain a privilege, possession, or enjoyment of a right or thing; CAUSE OF ACTION. 5. A right to payment or to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if the breach gives rise to a right to payment. It does not matter whether the right has been reduced to judgment or whether it is fixed or contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed or undisputed, or secured or unsecured. Indebtedness is defined as 1. The condition or state of owing money. 2. Something owed; a debt. Black's Law Dictionary 771 (7th ed.1999). The word claim as defined above falls squarely within the meaning of the term as defined in the PurCo Agreement and within the letters mailed to the Idaho resident. The Court disagrees with the distinction drawn by the district court between claim and debt, or that offered by PurCo. Specifically, PurCo attempted to collect on a cause of action, which it termed a debt owed to Thrifty, and PurCo demanded money owed. Under the PurCo Agreement, PurCo was obligated to collect monies owed to Thrifty from those who had damaged rental vehicles by their actions. When the Idaho citizen caused damage to one of Thrifty's vehicles, PurCo attempted to process the claim. In the PurCo Agreement, the term file was defined as a claim for damage to a specific motor vehicle, and includes all documentation relating to the claim. PurCo defined to process a file as to collect money for damage to a motor vehicle from any liable person by any lawful means available. According to the PurCo Agreement, Thrifty assigned all claims, rights, and causes of action to PurCo. The rental vehicle damage claim, which PurCo collected against the Idaho resident, constituted a claim or other indebtedness within the meaning of I.C. § 26-2223(2). [1]