Chrysler Corporation v. Alumbaugh

342 N.E.2d 908, 168 Ind. App. 363, 1976 Ind. App. LEXIS 827
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 10, 1976
Docket3-1173A152
StatusPublished
Cited by47 cases

This text of 342 N.E.2d 908 (Chrysler Corporation v. Alumbaugh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chrysler Corporation v. Alumbaugh, 342 N.E.2d 908, 168 Ind. App. 363, 1976 Ind. App. LEXIS 827 (Ind. Ct. App. 1976).

Opinions

GARRARD, j.

Chrysler appeals from a judgment entered upon a verdict for the plaintiff in a suit for personal injuries arising from an automobile collision.

On February 4, 1969, the plaintiff, Alumbaugh, was travelling west on U.S. Highway 20, a four-lane highway. Alumbaugh was driving in the outside (right) lane, and a vehicle driven by Steven Lesicko was in the inside (left) lane in the process of passing. At this point Edward York, who was operating a new 1969 Dodge pickup truck, approached Alumbaugh from the rear. Since the passing lane was occupied, York applied his brakes to avoid striking Alumbaugh. When he did this, the pickup veered suddenly to the left and struck Lesicko’s vehicle. This, in turn, caused Lesicko to strike Alumbaugh’s truck. Alumbaugh lost control. His vehicle left the highway and struck a tree, causing the injuries complained of.

[365]*365Subsequently, Alumbaugh sued York, Lesicko, Chrysler Motors Corporation and Greiger Motors, Inc. Lesicko and Greiger Motors, Inc. were later dismissed as defendants. Shortly before trial, Alumbaugh moved to substitute as a defendant Chrysler Corporation for Chrysler Motors Corporation. This motion was granted.

On appeal Chrysler questions this substitution of defendants. It also urges error in the trial court’s application of strict liability, in the failure to grant a mistrial over an insurance disclosure, in the court’s treatment of certain requested instructions, and in the admission and exclusion of evidence. We affirm.

I. Substitution of Parties

Alumbaugh’s original complaint, which was filed prior to the inception of our present rules of civil procedure, named Chrysler Motors Corporation as a defendant. Although an amended complaint was filed in 1971, this identification continued. In May 1972, more than two years after the collision, answers to interrogatories filed by Chrysler Motors Corporation denied manufacture of the vehicle and disclosed that the manufacturer was Chrysler Corporation. When Alumbaugh moved to substitute Chrysler Corporation as a party defendant, objection was made that the statute of limitations had expired and the substitution was impermissible.

Admittedly, the court’s action in granting the motion is not within the purview of Indiana Rules of Procedure, Trial Rule 25, which provides for substitution of parties in certain situations.

Alumbaugh urges, however, that the substitution was permitted by the provisions of TR. 15(C). The relevant portion of this rule provides:

“Whenever the claim or defense asserted in the amended pleading arose out of the conduct, transaction, or occurrence set forth or attempted to be set forth in the original pleading, the amendment relates back to the date of the original [366]*366pleading. An amendment changing the party against whom a claim is asserted relates hack if the foregoing provision is satisfied and, within the period provided by law for commencing the action against him, the party to be brought in by amendment
(1) has received such notice of the institution of the action that he will not be prejudiced in maintaining his defense on the merits, and
(2) knew or should have known that but for a mistake concerning the identity of the proper party, the action would have been brought against him. . . .” (Emphasis added)

In this case it is apparent that the liability asserted against Chrysler Corporation “. . . arose out of the conduct, transaction or occurrence” set forth in the original and amended complaints.1 It is equally apparent that Chrysler Corporation knew or should have known that but for a mistake in identity, suit would have been initiated against it. Finally, there was evidence before the court from which it could determine that Chrysler Corporation had notice of the action within the limitation period and that its defense on the merits was not prejudiced. Chrysler does not argue these points. Instead, its position is that TR. 15(C) is limited in application to changing the name of a party against whom a complaint was served.

To date, only two Indiana cases have spoken of the rule.2 In Ryser v. Gatchel (1972), 151 Ind. App. 62, 278 N.E.2d 320, a plaintiff had erroneously named a driver’s insurance agent, rather than the driver, as the defendant. The error was discovered more than two years after the collision, and the correct defendant was then named. He set up the statute of limitations in a motion for summary judgment. On appeal [367]*367the plaintiff urged that TR. 15(C) permitted the substitution, but this court refused to consider its application since plaintiff’s affidavits, etc. in opposition to the summary judgment failed to set forth facts showing compliance with the conditions prescribed in the rule.

In Gibson v. Miami Valley Milk Producers, Inc. (1973), 157 Ind. App. 218, 299 N.E.2d 631, the court noted the relevance of federal decisions construing Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 15 (c). Following a line of federal cases, the court held that the rule would not permit the addition of another party after expiration of the limitation period.

Where, however, the plaintiff seeks to substitute a party as defendant for one whom he erroneously named within the statutory period, the federal decisions have generally held the substitution permissible if the conditions of the rule are met. Craig v. U.S. (9th Cir. 1969), 413 F.2d 854; Williams v. U. S. (5th Cir. 1968), 405 F.2d 234; Travelers Indemnity Co. v. U.S. (10th Cir. 1967), 382 F.2d 103. See also, Bernstein v. Uris Bldg. Corp. (S.D. N.Y. 1970), 50 F.R.D. 121; Meredith v. United Airlines (S.D. Cal. 1966), 41 F.R.D. 34; 6 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure (1971), §§ 1497, 1498.

In Travelers Indemnity Co. v. U.S., supra, the court noted the underlying philosophy of the federal rules to facilitate decisions on the merits and avoid pleading traps. The court stated:

“This purpose is not furthered by giving Rule 15 lip service rather than full fealty. Nor is the purpose of the federal rules furthered by denying the addition of a party who has a close identity of interest with the old party when the added party will not be prejudiced. The ends of justice are not served when forfeiture of just claims because of technical rules is allowed. Thus the reasons [sic] amendments are to be granted freely as justice requires, and the trial court’s decision to allow amendment will not be upset unless a clear abuse of discretion exists.” (citations omitted) 382 F.2d 103, 106.

[368]*368The same philosophy applies in the interpretaton of our rules.

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Bluebook (online)
342 N.E.2d 908, 168 Ind. App. 363, 1976 Ind. App. LEXIS 827, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chrysler-corporation-v-alumbaugh-indctapp-1976.