Anderson v. Stream

Two cases were consolidated for review by the Minnesota Supreme Court. In Anderson v. Stream, Edward and Ruth Anderson were parents to 23-month-old Breanna Anderson (plaintiff). The Anderson family shared a common driveway with neighbors Edna and Martin Stream (defendants). The Andersons allowed Breanna to play outside for 10 to 15 minutes “in the back,” while the parents stayed inside the house. Breanna apparently wandered into the driveway because she was injured when Edna backed her automobile into Breanna. Edward, on Breanna’s behalf, sued the Streams for damages, and the Streams sought contribution and indemnity from the Andersons for negligent supervision. On a motion for summary judgment, the trial court ruled that the Andersons were immune to tort liability from their child. The Streams appealed. In Nuessle v. Nuessle, James Nuessle (defendant) took his three-year-old son Michael Nuessle (plaintiff) on an errand to a drugstore. Within a very short timeframe, Michael was no longer at James’s side. James urgently looked for him, but Michael had walked into a crosswalk and was hit by a car. Michael sustained severe injuries. Michael sued James for damages, but on a motion for summary judgment, the trial court held that Michael’s claim was barred by the doctrine of parental immunity. Michael appealed. Both appeals raised issues relating to the doctrine of parental immunity.