Court Opinion

ID: 9530311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:59:00.11819+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:04.645706
License: Public Domain

McFarland, J.,
dissenting: The majority opinion adopts the rule that henceforth a child may sue its parent for injuries re*779ceived through the parent’s operation of a motor vehicle, and thereby creates a new cause of action. Major public policy considerations are inherent therein, including:
1. Is there a need for such a cause of action?
2. If the need exists, should it be limited to situations where insurance is present? (Within this question is the legal determination of whether this is a legitimate basis of limitation.)
3. What has been the experience of other states abolishing parental immunity, either in whole or in part?
4. Will insurance rates rise for parents of minor children and, if so, will such rise be in direct proportion to the number of minor children in the family?
5. If the increased risk is to be spread across all automobile insurance policies, regardless of whether or not the owner of the vehicle has minor children, then how much raise will be involved?
6. How great is the danger of collusion?
7. What will be the effect on family unity?
8. On balance, do the benefits of the change outweigh its cost, both financially and socially?
These questions can only be answered by full legislative inquiry'. If a change is to be made in the existing law, the change should come through the legislature — not the courts.
If the existing law is to be judicially changed, then I would:
1. Exclude ordinary negligence as a cause of action except when arising out of the parent’s business; and
2. Limit the cause of action to intentional torts and acts of gross or wanton negligence.