Court Opinion

ID: 9520632
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 01:45:53.556918+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:33.604164
License: Public Domain

BAKER, Chief Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The undisputed evidence at trial established that the Sil-verado was a farm truck used primarily during farming season, which lasted for approximately twelve days in the spring planting season and fifty days in the fall harvesting season. During both seasons, Carfield used the truck every day. The trial court found that "[the truck was available for [Carfield] whenever he needed it for farm use" and that Carfield "did not have to ask Weldon's permission to use the truck for farm purposes." Trial Ct. Order p. 16.
I believe that both the trial court and the majority split hairs by concluding, based on these facts, that although the truck was "available" to Carfield during the farming seasons, it was not "available" for his "regular" use because he did not generally use it outside of those two seasons. This truck was a farm truck, to be used for farming purposes. Its primary usefulness occurred during the farming seasons, and during those seasons, Car-field used it every day. In the off seasons, Carfield continued to use it, albeit less frequently. He did not need to ask permission to use it, he changed the truck's oil, and the vehicle spent the night at his house more than ten times. I believe that his recurring use of the truck over a period of four years, including heavy usage during the farming seasons, constitutes "regular" use. Therefore, I would reverse.