Ventres v. Renny
New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
2009 WL 160432 (2009)
- Written by Meredith Hamilton Alley, JD
Facts
Thomas Renny and Denise D’Meo (defendants) bought a dirt bike, which was a kind of small motorcycle, for their son, Justin, to use on dirt-bike trails. The dirt bike did not have lights or reflectors, and Justin did not have a license to operate the dirt bike. Justin knew the code to the garage door where the dirt bike was stored, and the keys to the ignition were kept with the dirt bike. At 11:30 p.m. one night, without Renny and D’Meo’s knowledge, Justin drove the dirt bike on a public road and crashed into a car driven by Nancy Ventres (plaintiff), causing injuries to Ventres and to Ventres’s passenger. Justin was cited for several violations of the motor-vehicle statute, and Ventres sued Renny and D’Meo for medical expenses and damages to the car. The trial court found for Ventres, and Renny and D’Meo appealed. The appellate court held that Renny and D’Meo did not have vicarious liability and then discussed the doctrine of parental immunity (DPI).
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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