Court Opinion

ID: 9791507
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:12:34.872386+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:36.672744
License: Public Domain

EDMONDS, J.
I concur in the judgment of reversal upon the ground that the evidence upon the issue of Cahill’s permission to use the truck at the time of the injury presented a *327question of fact for the determination of the jury. But in reaching that conclusion, Mr. Justice Shenk states that the eases of Henrietta v. Evans, 10 Cal.2d 526 [75 P.2d 1051], and Engstrom v. Auburn Auto. Sales Corp., 11 Cal.2d 64 [77 P.2d 1059], are not determinative of the present controversy. That statement is correct, in my judgment, but not because, as he said: “There was no question in those cases of either express or implied permission for general use. ’ ’
In the Henrietta ease this court held: “On [principle], there is no fundamental ground of distinction between a limitation of time and one of purpose or place, in so far as permission is concerned; and it would seem clear that a substantial violation of either limitation terminates the original express consent and makes the subsequent use without permission. For example, an owner might entrust his car to another for the purpose of driving it to his home, or to a garage for repairs; and if the driver took the ear out on a pleasure trip, it could hardly be contended that he was acting with the permission of the owner.” The second decision affirmed a judgment for the defendant. As the only permission given Herndon to use the car was that he might have it for the particularly specified period, said the court, when that time had expired, he was not then driving it with the permission, either express or implied, of the owner.
Were the court now considering a judgment rendered upon evidence showing, without conflict, that the truck of the Garin Company was turned over to Cahill solely for his use in going to and from the company’s place of business and not to be driven on Sundays for personal errands, the rule of the prior decisions would require a determination that the owner was not liable for damages because of the accident. But the only issue now presented is whether the directed verdict was proper.