Griffin v. Russell

87 S.E. 10, 144 Ga. 275, 1915 Ga. LEXIS 167
CourtSupreme Court of Georgia
DecidedNovember 12, 1915
StatusPublished
Cited by129 cases

This text of 87 S.E. 10 (Griffin v. Russell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Griffin v. Russell, 87 S.E. 10, 144 Ga. 275, 1915 Ga. LEXIS 167 (Ga. 1915).

Opinions

Lumpkin, J.

(After stating the foregoing facts.)

1. In passing upon a demurrer to a petition, the petition and demurrer are to be considered, not oral admissions. Sicks v. Beacham, 131 Ga. 89 (62 S. E. 45).

It may be taken as settled law in this State that a father is not liable for the tort of a minor child, with which he was in no way connected, which he did not ratify, and from which he did not derive any benefit, merely because of the relation of parent and [278]*278child. Chastain v. Johns, 120 Ga. 977 (48 S. E. 343, 66 L. R. A. 958). And this accords with the rulings of other courts on the subject. A child, however, may occupy the position of a servant or agent of his parent, and for his acts as such the parent may be liable under the general principles governing the relation of master and servant, or principal and agent. The contested question in cases like the one under consideration usually is whether or not the facts show such a relation and liability arising to the parent therefrom. Some conflict in decisions has arisen from a difference in construing or applying the commonly used expression that the master is liable for the negligence of his servant “acting in the scope of his employment” and in regard to “his master’s business,” or like expressions. Courts have not always agreed as to what is within “the scope of his employment,” or what was an act in regard to the master’s “business;” indeed, what was comprehended in the term “business.” An agent or servant is frequently employed by contract or express agreement; but this, is not necessary to establish the relation. It may arise by implication as well as expressly. Thus it is declared in the Civil Code (1910), § 3569, that “The relation of principal and agent arises wherever one person, expressly or by implication, authorizes another to act for him, or subsequently ratifies the acts of another in his behalf.” The formality required in creating an agency to do certain acts is not involved. The word “business” is commonly employed in connection with an occupation for livelihood or profit, but it is not limited to such pursuits. When Jesus said, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”, He had no reference to matters involving pecuniary rewards.

In Lashbrook v. Patten, 1 Duv. (Ky.) 316, a minor son, while driving his two sisters to a picnic in his father’s carriage, drawn by his father’s horses, and yith his father’s approbation, all of the children being members of his father’s family, through negligence ran against the carriage of another, causing damage. The Court of Appeals said: “The son must be regarded as in the father’s employment, discharging a duty usually performed by a slave, and therefore must, for the purposes of this suit, be regarded as Ms father’s servant. The doctrine that masters are responsible for the injuries arising from the carelessness of their servants whilst in the master’s employment and the discharge of their duties, has [279]*279been, so long recognized and acted on, that we scarcely deem it necessary to elaborate the reasons or recite authorities.”

In Daily v. Maxwell, 152 Mo. App. 415 (133 S. W. 351), it was held that where a father purchased an automobile for the use of his family for pleasure, and allowed his minor sop to operate it for the family, he was liable for the negligence of such son while operating it for his own pleasure with the permission of the father. On that occasion the boy had asked and obtained consent of his father to take some of his young friends to ride in the automobile. In the opinion Johnson, J., said: “The evidence discloses that the machine was devoted to the use of the family of which Ernest was a member. It was a pleasure vehicle, and, when used for the pleasure of one of the minor children of the owner, how can it be said that it was not being used on business of the owner ? It is the practice of parents to provide their children healthful and innocent amusements and recreations, and certainly it is as much the business of parentage to supervise and control the pleasures of their children as it is to give them nurture and education. Had Ernest been taking his mother for a pleasure ride instead of taking some of his young friends, no one would contend that he was not on his father’s business; or, had he been using the car on an errand of his own, such as shopping for himself, or going to school, he would have been on his father’s business, since it was the duty of his father to support and educate him. The rule that a father is not liable for the torts of his minor child applies only to cases where the tort is committed without the consent of the parent and without the scope of any duty he owes his child. We conclude that, in running the Car with the consent of his father and within the scope of family uses, Ernest was the agent and servant of his father.”

In Stowe v. Morris, 147 Ky. 386 (144 S. W. 52, 39 L. R. A. (N. S.) 224), a motor-ear was kept by a man for the comfort and pleasure of his family, including a minor son and daughter as members of it. They had the right to use it as often as and when they liked. On the occasion in question the son took the ear at his own volition, and at his suggestion carried his sister and three other ladies for a ride. While he was driving the machine, he carelessly ran down and injured a boy on a bicycle. The father was held to be liable, on the ground that, the machine having been [280]*280provided for the comfort and pleasure of the family, and the son having been given the right to use it, he was to be treated as the servant of his father when operating it (though without a special permission on that occasion) for the entertainment of his sister and her friends. In the opinion Winn, J., cited the cases of Lashbrook v. Patten and Daily v. Maxwell, supra, and said: “So, in the case at bar, the father had provided his family with this car as a means of recreation and .amusement; and the son, in the use of the car for that purpose, was not performing an independent service of his own, but was carrying out what, within the spirit of the matter, was the business of the father.”

In McNeal v. McKain, 33 Okla. 449 (126 Pac. 742, 41 L. R. A. (N. S.) 775), a father bought an automobile for the pleasure and comfort of himself and family, his minor son, who was a member of his family, being authorized to use it at any time for that purpose. It was held that the son, in taking it out for the pleasure of himself and sister, with a friend, who was a guest of the father’s family, was a servant or agent of the father within the meaning of the rule as to liability of a principal for the torts of an agent or servant, and was not performing a service' independent of his father, and that the latter was liable for his negligence in driving the machine. In the opinion Williams, J., said: “Vehicles and motor cars may be used not only for the business of the master for profit, but also in his business for pleasure. If Paul, the minor son of the plaintiff in error, had been driving his father’s carriage (whilst he was a member of his family), in which were contained his sister and a guest of his father’s house, the same being done by him with the express or implied consent of his father, the relation of master and servant would exist, and the father would be liable for the negligent acts of the minor son whilst engaged in the 'driving of the carriage; and the same rule is supported by authority as to motor-cars.”

In Birch v. Abercrombie, 74 Wash. 486 (133 Pac. 1020, 50 L. R. A. (N.

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Bluebook (online)
87 S.E. 10, 144 Ga. 275, 1915 Ga. LEXIS 167, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/griffin-v-russell-ga-1915.