Never, ever give your keys to a Dealership after you first grab them.
Concur. I fail to see how the Jeep owner is liable...he was nowhere around when the accident occurred.
For failure to keep the Jeep under repair? It was in a repair shop.
Just like guns do.
“When you hand your car over to anybody including the valet or the person at the service desk at your local dealership, you better be able to trust that person.” At least that’s what the scum lawyer says. Well, that being the case, who exactly did the owner turn the keys over to? If that person isn’t the one that caused the death, then I’m guessing instant dismissal and counter-suit from hell.
STUPID, arcane legal technicalities!
Don’t see how the owner has any liability, this is on the dealership and their employee.
Maybe the lawyers here are being smart about this.
1. The family of the deceased employee wants to sue the employer for $15M.
2. Michigan law does not allow them to do this (this is established under the state's worker compensation insurance law), so they sue the owner of the vehicle.
3. Michigan law DOES allow a customer to sue a business establishment, so the insurance carrier for the vehicle owner files a third-party claim for contribution from the business owner.
4. The family of the deceased gets $15M from the vehicle owner. The vehicle owner gets $15M from the business owner to cover his loss. Justice is done.
This is why its difficult to have nice things.
This is the same mentality as those who sue after a successful self-defense with a firearm.
Sounds like the vehicle owner has a dandy counter suit.
I thought this was a story about fentanyl-laced engine oil….
Is this a repeat of the Jeep defect that killed the new Star Trek “Checkov” character?
I love how the guy who literally caused the death is the only one with no liability.
Screw them all.
Posted here a couple of days ago: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4060739/posts
The Jeep owner is “off the hook”:
“As Femminineo explained to Jalopnik, the Hawkins family can’t directly sue the dealership or its management. Michigan workers’ compensation law says you cannot sue a fellow employee for negligence while on the job. So the Hawkins family’s only option was to sue the Jeep owner. But that doesn’t mean the Jeep owner will be held responsible for the accidental death.
According to Femminineo, when the Hawkins family filed suit against the Jeep owner, that person immediately sued the dealership for indemnification, and won. With that victory in place, whatever results from the Hawkins family’s suit against the Jeep owner will be the legal responsibility of Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge (and their insurance company). Basically, while the owner of the Jeep is named in the suit, that person won’t face any repercussions from the trial or judgment.”
https://jalopnik.com/why-a-jeep-owner-is-being-sued-for-a-mechanics-death-du-1848884952
Since was No Start due to shifter being in gear and clutch out, kid put right foot on shop floor and used LEFT foot to engage clutch and started vehicle while shifter was in gear, then released clutch.
A judge that allows this to go forward without dismissing the car owner as a defendant should be disbarred.
This question may seem ridiculously Off Topic, but it’s not:
“What size shoe does the mechanic wear?”
I ask, because I’m one of those short guys (5ft-8’) with big feet (Size 14 EE), and I have always had to be very careful to make damn sure my right foot was completely on the gas or completely on the brake pedals. I used to experience a sudden lurch forward, usually while coasting to a stop, and I would blame ‘mechanical malfunctions’ too. Then I was forced to admit, at least to myself, that my toes were probably pushing the brake while my heel was on the gas.
Their argument:
“a person who lends their car is liable for negligent acts because they gave the other person permission to use their vehicle”
If the owner is a white guy, he’s guilty.
/s