Court Opinion

ID: 9580399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:04:36.823956+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:15.469511
License: Public Domain

O’Hara, J.
(dissenting). I disagree with Mr. Justice Souris. First, I am not in accord with his application of Muma v. Brown, 378 Mich 637. I regard the ease as inapposite.
In Muma, we were concerned with an unlicensed and inexperienced minor of the age of 14 driving the family automobile titled in the mother and father jointly. The theory of the plaintiff was that the parents were negligent in leaving the 14-year-old boy at home alone unsupervised for a weekend, with a set of keys to the family car in the house.
In the case at bar the minor was 18 years of age. He was a licensed driver. The title to the auto*86mobile involved was in Ms name and the name of bis mother. His license to drive was granted bim by the State. He was legally entitled to be an owner and be was by the certificate of title a co-owner. His father was a stranger to the title and could not under any statute we have been cited have prohibited bis son from obtaining title thereto legally, nor legally could be compel bis son as co-owner to divest himself of bis co-ownership.* This is a far factual cry from the situation presented in Muma.
With the general principles quoted by Justice Souris I have no basic disagreement. In the pleaded factual context of this case I do not think they control. Plaintiff alleged as to the father only that Barre E. Lester was under 21, and “was subject to the orders, direction and control of Ms * * * parents.” Literally, such a legal conclusion can hardly be challenged. It is little more than a restatement of the parent-child relationship. Such relationship does not per se render a parent liable for the tort of a child. At least I have never so understood that to be the law of this State.
I would affirm tbe Court of Appeals. Costs to tbe defendant Harger A. Lester.
Dethmebs, C. J., and Kelly, J., concurred with O’Hara, J.
Black, J., did not sit.

 We are aware of PA 1966, No 164, which became effective March 10, 1967.