Court Opinion

ID: 9848237
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:15:11.017821+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:09.241430
License: Public Domain

Boyles, J.
(concurring). I concur in the result reached by Mr. Justice Dethmers but do not subscribe to some of the conclusions.
The allegations of the declaration, to show a joint-enterprise or a principal-and-agent relationship, are sufficiently set out in Mr. Justice Dethmers’ opinion. I am not in accord with the conclusion that they disclose a joint enterprise or the relationship of principal and agent between plaintiff and the defendant.
In this State, the rules of law governing joint enterprise in negligence cases are founded on the laws of principal and agent or partnership. The circumstances which must be shown, to establish a joint enterprise, and to establish the responsibility of one member of a joint enterprise for the acts of another member, have been settled by former decisions.
“To constitute a joint enterprise between a passenger and the driver of an automobile within the meaning of the law of negligence, there must be such a community of interest in its operation as to give each an equal right of control. There must be a common responsibility for its negligent operation, and there can be no common responsibility unless there is a common right of control. It must be held that the driver is acting as the agent of the other members of the enterprise. The rule of joint enterprise in negligence cases is founded on the law of principal and agent. On no other theory could the negligence of the driver be imputable to a passenger. Being parties to the same enterprise, they are assumed to have common control and possession of the machine. Otherwise, each could not be charged *160with, the negligence of the other. It is not necessary to review the cases in which this question is considered. The subject is discussed and many cases are cited in the annotation to Keiswetter v. Rubenstein, 48 ALR 1049 (235 Mich 36).” Farthing v. Hepinstall, 243 Mich 380.
The foregoing is based upon the conclusions reached by the Court in an action by one who was not a member to recover damages for personal injury from the members of a joint enterprise. In holding each member liable, the Court said:
“A ‘joint adventure’ is defined as ‘an association of two or more persons to carry out a single business enterprise for profit.’ Fletcher v. Fletcher, 206 Mich 153. See, also, Alderton v. Williams, 139 Mich 296. While, under the present state of the law, courts do not treat a joint adventure as in all respects identical with a partnership, the contractual relations of the parties and nature of their association are so similar and closely akin to a partnership that it is commonly held their rights and liabilities are to be tested by the same rules that govern partnerships.” Keiswetter v. Rubenstein, 235 Mich 36, 45 (48 ALR 1049).
Prior to our decision in Bricker v. Green, 313 Mich 218 (163 ALR 697), the doctrine of so-called “imputed negligence” was given more general application in our decisions. The negligence of one member of a joint enterprise was “imputable” to the other members. In Hanser v. Youngs, 212 Mich 508, the Court said:
“The important question upon this branch of the case, however, grows out of the contention of defendant’s counsel that the plaintiff, Mr. Kinsler and Mr. Michaels were engaged in a common enterprise, that of getting and bringing home their winter’s supply of potatoes; that it was a violation of the statute not to have the tail light burning, constituting neg*161ligence imputable to all, and that, as matter of law, such negligence was contributory negligence precluding plaintiff’s right of recovery. ’ * * * The undisputed testimony shows that Mr. Michaels, Mr. Kinsler and plaintiff were on the day in question engaged in a common enterprise, that of purchasing and bringing home their winter’s supply of potatoes. Its purpose had not been accomplished nor had it been abandoned when the accident occurred. Under such circumstances 'the negligence of Mr. Michaels in not having the tail light burning was imputable to plaintiff. In Beaucage v. Mercer, 206 Mass 492 (92 NE 774, 138 Am St Rep 401), that court had a somewhat similar question before it, and it was said:
“ ‘The trial, however, seems to have proceeded upon the theory that the plaintiffs were engaged in a common enterprise, and that it still was in force at the time of the accident. So long as the joint enterprise was in force the contributory negligence of one would bar a recovery of either, provided always the negligence was in a matter within the scope of the joint agreement; and if that is to be regarded as the meaning of the instruction then it was correct.’ ”
The later decisions indicate that there has been no wavering in determining what the requirements are, in order to establish a joint enterprise. In Johnson v. Mach, 263 Mich 10, 16, the Court, discussing the above decisions, said:
“It is claimed, however, that plaintiff, Mack, and the other two passengers were engaged in a joint venture; that, as fellow workmen, they were using Mack’s car to transport them tó their place of work, and then home again. There is much confusion in the law and a conflict of authority as to what constitutes a joint enterprise in the use of an automobile. The facts in the present- case, however, are clear, and show distinctly that there was no joint enterprise.. The car belonged to Mack. Plaintiff *162liad no control ovQr it whatever. He paid for his transportation. * * * In Frisorger v. Shepse (251 Mich 121), every member of the party had something to do 'with the management and control of the enterprise. All parties shared equally in the expense, and the rule of principal and agent, as set forth in Farthing v. Hepinstall, 243 Mich 380, was controlling. In the present case, plaintiff had absolutely nothing to do with the management or control of Mack’s car, but on the contrary, Mack, the owner of the car, had exclusive control over it.”
In Schneider v. Draper, 276 Mich 259, 266, the Court said:
“The boys were not on a common venture or joint undertaking which relieved Draper of liability, because he had sole control of the car and the other, boys had no right to direct its movements. The point is clearly discussed in Frisorger v. Shepse, 251 Mich 121.”
In Laughlin v. Michigan Motor Freight Lines (syllabus), 276 Mich 545, the Court held:
“In action arising out of accident in Ohio, wherein wife of driver of automobile sued common carrier for injuries sustained in collision with latter’s truck, husband and wife held, not engaged in joint adventure in operation of automobile under record showing she neither shared the expense nor control of the car in returning to Pennsylvania with daughter from visit with relatives in Michigan.”
Again, in Hopkins v. Golden, 281 Mich 389, the Court, after referring to and quoting from the above-mentioned Keiswetter, Farthing, and Laughlin Cases, said:
' “Applying the foregoing to the facts of the instant case, we find that all the parties thereto wanted to go to the ‘smelt run’ at Beulah, Michigan. Hopkins, his wife and Miss Boots contributed the expense of *163operating defendant Golden’s automobile and Golden contributed the use of his machine and bore the depreciation thereon. All parties were engaged in a common enterprise for their mutual benefit and pleasure; the joint venture related to a single isolated transaction. Fletcher v. Fletcher, 206 Mich 153. Under the facts stated, the common control and possession of the automobile is to be assumed. Farthing v. Hepinstall, supra.”
In Johnson v. Fischer, 292 Mich 78, the Court, again relying upon the above cases, said:
“It is clear these parties did not sustain to each other at the time of the injury the relation of passenger and carrier for hire. It is equally clear plaintiff was not a guest passenger of defendant Mae Fischer any more than defendant was a guest of plaintiff Nettie W. Johnson. The parties were engaged in a fishing enterprise, not a beer-drinking contest. This was a joint venture, not for profit, but for pleasure and recreation with a hope of prospective reward in acquiring fish, undertaken for the mutual benefit and satisfaction of each of the parties. It had many of the usual incidents of a fishing trip. It was unfortunate the automobile got out of control, that both of the parties were injured, but the liability of the defendant Mae Fischer in this case is no greater than the liability of the plaintiff Nettie W. Johnson who induced her to take the trip. Under the undisputed evidence, the parties were engaged in a joint venture or enterprise and plaintiffs may not recover.”
The controlling opinion in Bushie v. Johnson, 296 Mich 8, is not out of line with foregoing decisions. The Court said:
“Assuming, but not deciding, that the facts of the case establish a joint enterprise, su.ch. holding would not benefit the plaintiff.” ' ,
*164Plaintiff'and Ms wife were tailing a trip to Iowa for their own purposes. The defendant had no community of interest in the purposes for which the plaintiff was going to Iowa. The only connection which the defendant had with the trip was that he was allowed to ride with plaintiff in plaintiff’s automobile 'as far as Rock Island, Illinois, drive the automobile a part of, the time, and that plaintiff was to help him get admitted to the college. The defendant in no Way shared the expenses, Ms purpose in going to' Rock Island was entirely foreign to the purpose of plaintiff in making the trip to Iowa, and the defendant had no right of control over the use of the automobile, the route, direction, extent or duration of the plaintiff’s trip. The fact that the defendant was at the time of the accident in control of the automobile to the extent that he was then the driver, does not establish the “right of control.” In Parks v. Pere Marquette Railway Co., 315 Mich 38, the Court said:
“In connection with appellant’s discussion of the foregoing phase of the instant case, it is contended that the burden of proof is upon the defendant to show ‘that the passenger-owner has retained the right and power to control the automobile in which he is riding in order that contributory negligence may be imputed from the driver to the passenger-owner.’ We are not in accord with this contention. This issue of control would be involved in the question of whether a plaintiff was free from contributory negligence, and the burden of so showing rests on a plaintiff. Pulford v. Mouw, 279 Mich 376. Further, the undisputed record in this case is wholly inconsistent with any other conclusion except that plaintiff’s decedent up to and including the instant of the accident at .all times had the right of control.
’ “ ‘The plaintiff, because of her ownership of the automobile and her presence therein,' was prima facie in control of its operation on the occasion in *165question. The mere fact that the plaintiff did not actually exercise control did not warrant a finding that she had abandoned her right to control.’ Guy v. Railway Co. (syllabus), 289 Mass 225 (193 NE 740).
“ ‘As respects imputed negligence, when owner of automobile is riding in it while another is driving, inference is warranted that owner retained right to control its operation, in the absence of controlling evidence to the contrary.’ Foley v. Hurley, 288 Mass 354 (headnote, 193 NE 2).”
Nor does the fact that plaintiff had promised to help the defendant get enrolled in the college at Rock Island, plus the fact that the defendant was to drive the automobile part of thé time, establish a joint-adventure, a partnership, or á pEncipal-andagent relationship.
I think we are in accord that in this case the question whether the facts and circumstances establish a joint-enterprise or principal-and-agent. relation; ship is before us for decision. If there was no such relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant as members of a joint enterprise, or principal and agent as that term is used in our decisions defining joint enterprise, that basis for imputing the defendant’s negligence to the plaintiff is eliminated from the case. In this case there is no need to overrule former decisions of the Court involving joint enterprise. In that connection, it is proper to note that the decisions which have been ably analyzed, discussed, and overruled by Mr. Justice Dethmers were handed down prior to our decision in Bricker v. Green, supra, and at a time when this Court adhered to the doctrine of imputing to the passenger in an automobile the negligence of the driver. When the occasion arises, imputed negligence, generally the controlling element in those earlier cases, may well be *166reviewed in the light of Bricker v. Green, in which case the Court said:
“As a result of our study and observation we are convinced that in the long run the application of the rule is more harmful than helpful and results in more injustice than it prevents; and that we should not continue the invariable application of the so-called imputed negligence rule merely and solely on the ground that the injured person was a voluntary, gratuitous passenger in an automobile, the driver of which was guilty of negligence which was a contributing proximate cause of an accident and injury to such passenger.”
The facts in this case do not involve the question of the liability of either the plaintiff or the defendant to another, a third party, in an action charging them, or either of them, with negligence. Nor does this case involve the question of liability of a third party to either the plaintiff or the defendant in the instant Case. This is an action by the plaintiff owner and passenger against the defendant driver, to recover damages for the alleged negligence of the defendant. It does not involve third-party liability. I hold that the facts and circumstances of this case do not establish a joint-enterprise or a principal-agent relationship between the parties in the case. If that is a correct conclusion, our decisions defining joint enterprise, or the relationship of principal and agent in the limited sense in which that term is used in its application to joint 'enterprise, and defining the liability of one member of a joint enterprise to answer in damages to another member, are not in point in the case at bar. The answer to.the question here involved is in the Bricker Case. The negligence of the defendant driver is not imputed to his temporary passenger, the plaintiff.' Bricker v. Green, supra. The relationship between this plaintiff and defendant not being that of members of a joint enter*167prise, or principal and agent, "what is it? Apparently, the necessary incidents of a master-and-servant relationship are lacking. The facts do not establish that the defendant was an employee of the plaintiff. Their relationship was more nearly that of a'naked license or permit, where the owner of an automobile, while riding in the vehicle, allows another to' drive it. In the sense here used, a license means “to confer on a person the right to do something which otherwise he would not have the right to do.” 33 Am Jur, “Licenses,” § 2, p 325.
“The object of a license is to confer a right that does not exist without a license.” Chilvers v. People, 11 Mich 43, 49.
“The popular understanding of the- word license undoubtedly is, a permission to do something which without the license would not be allowable. This we are to suppose was the sense in which it was made use of in the Constitution. But this is also the legal meaning. ‘The object of a license,’ says Mr. Justice Manning, ‘is to confer a right that does not exist without a license.’ — Chilvers v. People, 11 Mich 43, 49.” Youngblood v. Sexton, 32 Mich 406, 419 (20 Am Rep 654).
The general understanding of a license is stated in Webster’s New International Dictionary (2d ed), p 1425, as follows:
“License, license, n * * * Authority or liberty given to do or forbear any act; permission to do something.”
Such a license may be either oral or written. A familiar example is an oral permit to enter upon the, lands of another for a particular purpose. Marshall v. Heselschwerdt, 304 Mich 664; Frank v. Coyle, 310 Mich 14.
As before indicated, this is not a case involving; liability between the owner of an automobile and *168a third party for the negligence of one who was allowed to drive the automobile with the owner’s knowledge and consent. CL 1948, § 256.29 (Stat Ann § 9.1446). The relationship between these parties has no legal significance here beyond the fact that, under our decision in Bricher v. Green, supra, which controls here, the negligence of the defendant driver is not imputable to the plaintiff owner who was temporarily a passenger in his own automobile.
Except as indicated herein, I am in accord with the conclusion reached by Mr. Justice Dethmers to the effect that there was a misjoinder of causes of action and a misjoinder of parties plaintiff. In this case the plaintiff sues in his individual capacity and also as administrator of the estate of his deceased wife. There were 2 causes of action, which were not joint, and the joinder was improper. In legal éffect, under the circumstances of this case, there were 2 plaintiffs — Carl D. Bostrom in his own right, and Carl D. Bostrom as administrator of the estate of Clara B. Bostrom, deceased. Under these circumstances, joinder is not permitted.
“The plaintiff may join in 1 action, at law or in equity, as many causes of action as he may have against.the defendant, * * * but when there is more than 1 plaintiff, the causes of action joined fnustbe joint.” CL 1948, § 608.1 (Stat Ann § 27.591).
On the grounds stated herein, I concur in remanding the .case to the trial court, affirming the order of dismissal unless the plaintiff within 30 days enters a consent to the dismissal of one of said separate causes, which may be" without .prejudice to bringing a separate suit as to such cause. In the event of such dismissal the present action at law will not be defeated by the misjoinder of parties (CL 1948, §. 612.13 [Stat Ann § 27.665]) and the trial court will retain jurisdiction over further, proceedings in the *169case. No costs, each party having prevailed only in part on this appeal.
North, J., concurred with Boyles, J.