Court Opinion

ID: 9684895
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:18:14.939958+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:00.989475
License: Public Domain

Moore, J.
I dissent.
The purpose of our guest statute (Code section 321.494) is to protect automobile drivers and owners from claims made by persons who were riding in the motor vehicle as guests or by invitation and not for hire except as the statute provides. Niel*25sen v. Kohlstedt, 254 Iowa 470, 473, 474, 117 N.W.2d 900, 903, and citations.
Although our statute is in derogation of the common law it is' to be liberally construed with a view to promote its objects and assist the parties in securing justice. Nielsen v. Kohlstedt, supra; Rainsbarger v. Shepherd, 254 Iowa 486, 492, 118 N.W.2d 41, 44, 1 A. L. R.3d 1074, and citations.
In Murray v. Lang, 252 Iowa 260, 266, 267, 106 N.W.2d 643, 647, we say of our guest statute: “Thus, in line with our rule of liberal construction of this statute for the protection of ‘the owner or operator of a motor vehicle’, we have in effect created a presumption, rebuttable, that an occupant riding in a car operated by another person is a guest within the meaning of section 321.494, and has the burden of proving otherwise in an action predicated upon negligence of the operator or owner.”
In Livingston v. Schreckengost, 255 Iowa 1102, 1105, 125 N.W.2d 126, 127, 128, we quote the following from Doherty v. Edwards, 227 Iowa 1264, 1268, 290 N.W. 672, 674: “Ordinarily where the only benefits conferred upon the person extending the invitation are those incidental to hospitality, companionship or society, the passenger is held to be a guest. Where the passenger is a social guest or casual invitee he is usually regarded as a guest even though he may contribute something toward the expenses of the journey and may be expected to operate the car on part of the trip. McCornack v. Pickerell, 225 Iowa 1076, 283 N.W. 899; Sullivan v. Harris, 224 Iowa 345, 276 N.W. 88; Vance v. Grohe, 223 Iowa 1109, 274 N.W. 902; Clendenning v. Simerman, 220 Iowa 739, 263 N.W. 248.”
The facts in Sullivan v. Harris, supra, 224 Iowa 345, 276 N.W. 88, are very similar to those in the case at bar. There defendant wanted to go to Minneapolis to look for work. Defendant asked plaintiff to go and agreed to pay her expenses with the understanding she was to drive defendant’s automobile on part of the trip. They were to stay at the home of defendant’s relative in Minneapolis. Plaintiff was injured on the trip. We reversed judgment on a verdict for plaintiff and held as a matter of law she was a guest.
In our recent case of Reeves v. Beekman, 256 Iowa 263, 127 *26N.W.2d 95, we point out that such benefits to the operator or owner as are incidental to hospitality, social relations, companionship or the like are not definite and tangible benefits as are contemplated by the statute. Defendant was depressed over the death of a friend in Pomeroy. She asked plaintiff and a lady friend to ride with her from Fort Dodge to Pomeroy to pay her respects. Defendant testified she asked them “to come along— just to have somebody to talk to would help bring things happier, I thought.” We held as a matter of law plaintiff was a guest.
Albrecht v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 159 Ore. 331, 80 P.2d 62, on which the majority seems to rely is clearly distinguishable on the facts. There one Howard was a district manager for Safeway Stores and as such was required to visit and inspect stoi*es in five counties in eastern Oregon and to haul merchandise from one store to another. He was paid four cents a mile to cover traveling expenses. Plaintiff was asked by Howard to help him and help drive part of the time and was injured while riding in Howard’s automobile on the trip.
The Oregon court at page 341 of 159 Ore., at pages 66 and 67, 80 P.2d, states: “Under ordinary circumstances the status of a guest would not be changed merely by reason of the fact that such person, at the request of the operator of a motor vehicle, did part of the driving. Such benefit would be too trivial or inconsequential to change the relationship of the parties. Sullivan v. Harris, (Iowa), 276 N.W. 88. In the instant case it is believed, however — although the question is close — that the facts and circumstances viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, present a question of fact for the jury.”
Here plaintiffs were guests when they went with defendant to the bowling lanes on Friday evening and as companions would be expected to help keep a lookout and assist defendant in the operation of her vehicle. That is the extent of defendant’s request on Saturday morning. I believe their status remained unchanged during the Saturday morning drive to the farm and on the return trip the following Monday morning when the accident occurred. What plaintiffs did during the trip Saturday morning was too trivial to change the relationship of the parties. The purpose of the trip was social.
*27If we are to change the well established rule stated in Livingston v. Sehreckengost, supra, and overrule our prior cases, particularly Sullivan v. Harris, supra, we should clearly so state.
I would affirm.
Larson and Snell, JJ., join in this dissent.