Court Opinion

ID: 9779198
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 21:39:55.267761+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:23.219469
License: Public Domain

Tom Glaze, Justice, concurring. While I agree with the result reached by the majority, I cannot join its efforts to extend the holding further than the facts in this case warrant. The situation here involves an insured who gave permission to a friend to run an errand. Although the insured limited her friend’s use of the vehicle, by saying the vehicle could be driven on a county road, the friend violated those instructions by driving on a state highway upon which he collided with another vehicle. In sum, the friend failed to follow the insured’s instructions and permission, but his deviation from the permitted route was minor. The majority now adopts a rule which extends insurance coverage to all situations, regardless of how grossly the person using the vehicle violates the original terms of the entrustment or bailment. I have a strong reluctance to adopt such an all-inclusive rule, especially when the facts here do not require it and the parties do not brief or argue the various rules set out in the majority opinion. Suffice it to say, there are jurisdictions — noted by the majority — that have rejected the “initial permission” or “Hell or High Water” rule the majority adopts today. There are compelling and sound reasons to reject a rule that extends insurance coverage to situations where a person grossly violates the trust of an insured who permits the person to use the insured’s vehicle. Until the proper facts and arguments are before the court on this issue, the court should limit its decision, leaving open the issue of whether Arkansas should adopt such a rule. Hickman and Hays, JJ., join in this concurrence.