Kruse v. Fitzpatrick

• Decision Date: 03 May 1977
• Citation: 278 Or. 185,563 P.2d 680
• Parties: Dorothy Hughes KRUSE, Appellant, v. Alice FITZPATRICK, Respondent.
• Court: Oregon Supreme Court

Page 680

563 P.2d 680

278 Or. 185

Dorothy Hughes KRUSE, Appellant, v. Alice FITZPATRICK, Respondent.

Supreme Court of Oregon, In Banc.

Argued and Submitted April 4, 1977.

Decided May 3, 1977.

Roger B. Todd, North Bend, argued the cause for appellant. With him on the briefs was Flaxel & Todd, North Bend.

Edward H. Warren, Portland, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief was Hershiser, Mitchell & Warren, Portland.

BRYSON, Justice.

Plaintiff brings this action to recover damages for personal injuries suffered when she was struck by an automobile operated by defendant. Plaintiff's complaint alleged that defendant was negligent. Defendant's answer alleged that plaintiff 'was a guest in defendant's vehicle within the meaning of ORS 30.115.' The trial court granted summary judgment for defendant, finding as a matter of law that plaintiff was a guest within the meaning of ORS 30.115. Plaintiff appeals.

The facts are uncontested and reveal that plaintiff was struck while crossing her driveway in front of defendant's stopped vehicle and while on her way from her front door to the passenger side of defendant's automobile. Defendant, while waiting for plaintiff, had left her vehicle running and in gear, relying solely upon the foot brake to keep the vehicle from moving forward. As plaintiff left her home, defendant observed that her passenger door was locked and leaned across to release the lock. In so doing, defendant's foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator, causing her automobile to surge forward, striking plaintiff and then plaintiff's garage. As a result of the accident, plaintiff suffered serious personal injury.

ORS 30.115 provides that:

'No person transported by the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, * * * as his guest without payment for such transportation, shall have a cause of action for damages against the owner or operator for injury, death or loss, in case of accident, unless the accident was intentional on the part of the owner or operator or caused by his gross negligence or intoxication. * * *

'* * *.'

The only issue in this case is whether '(t)he trial court erred in granting defendant's motion for summary judgment and finding, as a matter of law, that plaintiff was a guest passenger' and being 'transported' within the meaning of ORS 30.115. ¹

In Jewett v. Kosydar, 266 Or. 258, 260--61, 512 P.2d 995, 997 (1973), this court rejected the proposition that the coverage of the guest statute should turn on whether the invitee was wholly within the vehicle and the vehicle had begun the journey. Instead, we held that the statute comes into play 'at the point when the host begins performance of the gratuitous undertaking.'

Recently, in Fullerton v. White, 273 Or. 649, 542 P.2d 1017 (1975), we held:

'* * * (T)he Oregon guest statute, being in derogation of the common law, is to be strictly construed and that the construction of the statute 'should not be extended beyond the correction of evils in the attainment of the permissible social objects which, it may be assumed, were the inducing reasons for its enactment' and that its application should be 'carefully confined to those who clearly come within the first purpose of the rule.' This court has stated that purpose as follows:

"* * * It was not considered just that one who accepts the kindness or hospitality of an automobile owner or operator, in extending an invitation to ride, should recover damages for personal injuries unless the same resulted from gross negligence, intoxication, or an intentional wrong.' (Footnotes omitted.) 273 Or. at 658, 542 P.2d at 1021--1022, citing Albrecht v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 159 Or. 331, 336, 80 P.2d 62 (1938).

In Duerst v. Limbocker, 269 Or. 252, 256, 525 P.2d 99, 102 (1974), we stated:

'Two state policies have been identified as underlying ORS 30.115. First, the statute has been seen as an attempt to prevent collusive lawsuits by barring from the courts those parties who, because of their close personal relationship (which may be inferred from the absence of payment), might arrange for the host driver to falsely confess negligence in order to secure recovery for his guest. Secondly, the statute has been seen as an attempt to protect the generous and hospitable host from being held liable for injuries at the instance of an ungrateful guest. * * *'

Also, in Naber v. Thompson, 274 Or. 309, 312, 546 P.2d 467, 468 (1976), holding that the guest statute was not a defense in the husband's action for loss of consortium, we pointed out that '(p)laintiff was not an occupant of the vehicle operated by the defendant nor does plaintiff seek damages for injury to an occupant.'

This court has not previously considered a case where the plaintiff had no actual contact with the vehicle before the accident. In Hankins v. Bates, 271 Or. 676, 680, 534 P.2d 170, 172 (1975), the plaintiff water skier was injured while she 'was in the process of positioning herself for transportation behind the boat.' However, in that case plaintiff had been a passenger in the motor boat immediately before the accident while another water skier was being pulled. After requesting that she too be permitted to water-ski, plaintiff had jumped out of the boat for a deep water start and was preparing for her turn to be pulled when she was struck by the boat. Under these circumstances, the picking up and dropping off of water skiers is best regarded as one ongoing 'transportation.' ² We do not read Hankins v. Bates, supra, as being dispositive of the issue presented here.

Other courts faced with guest statutes and fact situations similar to those present in the instant case have held their guest statutes not to apply to situations where the plaintiff has made no intentional contact with the automobile. ³ Defendant cites no applicable authority holding to the contrary. ⁴

We do not believe the purpose of the statute is enhanced by extending its protection to injuries inflicted by defendants upon their anticipated guests before those guests have made any voluntary contact with the vehicle. As noted above, the policy supporting the guest statute is based upon the relationship between the guest and her host. Consequently, as we held in Jewett, it makes sense to include within the statute those cases where the plaintiff is injured in the process of entering or leaving defendant's vehicle. In such cases the risk of injury is one growing out of the guest passenger-driver relationship.

It is difficult to rationalize when the application of the statute begins or ends. Defendant concedes that a plaintiff ceases to be a guest passenger when the 'transportation' is terminated and the guest leaves the host's car. It seems reasonable to conclude that 'transportation' begins when the plaintiff contacts the car and starts to enter for the purpose of being transported and thereby establishes the guest-host relationship. Until such contact is made and entry of the car begins, a plaintiff might well have a change of mind and accept transportation from some other host. In this case, the plaintiff might well have, for several reasons, decided to stay home. In fact, plaintiff did stay at home and thereafter went to the hospital.

It is doubtful if the defendant, host-to-be, could feel offended or consider plaintiff 'ungrateful' because the plaintiff brings this action. Certainly the defendant could not feel that plaintiff was ungrateful...