Laurel Yamaha, Inc. v. Freeman

956 So. 2d 897, 2007 WL 1558740
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedMay 31, 2007
Docket2005-IA-01605-SCT
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 956 So. 2d 897 (Laurel Yamaha, Inc. v. Freeman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Laurel Yamaha, Inc. v. Freeman, 956 So. 2d 897, 2007 WL 1558740 (Mich. 2007).

Opinion

956 So.2d 897 (2007)

LAUREL YAMAHA, INC.
v.
Norman Decker FREEMAN and Susan Freeman, Individually, and on Behalf of the Wrongful Death Beneficiaries of Christopher Brandon Freeman.

No. 2005-IA-01605-SCT.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

May 31, 2007.

*899 Laura L. Gibbes John H. Holloman, III, F. Hall Bailey, Jackson, attorneys for Appellant.

Craig N. Orr, Robert D. Gholson, Laurel, attorneys for Appellees.

EN BANC.

RANDOLPH, Justice, for the Court.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

¶ 1. This interlocutory appeal arises from a wrongful death action filed by Norman Decker Freeman and Susan Freeman (collectively "the Freemans") against Laurel Yamaha, Inc. ("Laurel Yamaha"). The Freemans' son, Christopher Brandon Freeman ("Brandon"), purchased a 2002 Yamaha YZF600R sport motorcycle from Laurel Yamaha. Three days later, Brandon had an accident on this motorcycle which resulted in his death.

¶ 2. The Freemans filed a lawsuit, alleging, inter alia, that Laurel Yamaha: 1) negligently failed to determine whether Brandon was licensed and competent; 2) negligently entrusted the motorcycle to Brandon; 3) negligently trained and supervised its staff; and 4) negligently failed to sell Brandon a properly sized helmet.

¶ 3. Following discovery, Laurel Yamaha filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. Laurel Yamaha asserted it had no legal duty to Brandon and therefore could not be negligent under the law. Laurel Yamaha also claimed the Freemans' demand for hedonic damages was precluded per Mississippi Code Annotated Section 11-1-69. A hearing was held on Laurel Yamaha's Motion for Summary Judgment, and the trial court denied the Motion for Summary Judgment.

¶ 4. From the Order Denying the Motion for Summary Judgment, Laurel Yamaha filed a Petition for Interlocutory Appeal, which was granted.

¶ 5. Laurel Yamaha raises the following issues on appeal:

1) Whether Mississippi law recognizes a claim for negligent entrustment in the context of a sales transaction.
2) Whether Mississippi law imposes any duty on a seller, sufficient to support *900 a negligence claim, to restrict motor vehicle sales to licensed drivers or to determine the competence of drivers as part of the sale.
3) Whether any factual basis exists to support the Freemans' claims for negligent training or supervision of Laurel Yamaha's staff.
4) Whether any factual basis exists that the helmet sold to Brandon was too large.
5) Whether any legal basis exists for the Freemans' hedonic damages claim.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

¶ 6. Brandon was an eighteen-year-old student who attended Jones County Junior College, living at the home of his parents in Laurel, Mississippi. He also held a part-time job.

¶ 7. Prior to April 10, 2004, Brandon called Laurel Yamaha and spoke with the assistant manager, Keith Pitts ("Pitts"). Pitts described the motorcycle inventory then available. On April 10, 2004, Brandon drove in a car to Laurel Yamaha. After arriving at Laurel Yamaha, Brandon was assisted by Pitts in shopping for a motorcycle. Pitts revealed the following facts by sworn affidavit: Brandon told Pitts that he had never owned a motorcycle before; Brandon told him that several of his friends had bikes and motorcycles and that he was experienced in operating motorcycles. Brandon selected a 2002 Yamaha YFZ600RP motorcycle for purchase. Brandon demonstrated a familiarity with this particular type of motorcycle. According to Pitts:

As I observed [Brandon] during this discussion, he appeared to be very familiar with this type of motorcycle and he already knew of many of the features I pointed out to him. [Brandon] appeared both physically and mentally capable of operating the motorcycle and had knowledge about motorcycles that indicated he was experienced with them.

¶ 8. Conversely, Brandon's riding competency was questioned by a friend, Jacob Staples ("Staples"), who had been riding with Brandon seconds prior to the fatal accident. In his deposition, Staples opined: "Knowing and being able to ride bikes for six years, I knew [Brandon] was not competent."

¶ 9. To finance the motorcycle, Brandon needed credit approval. Brandon told Pitts that his father would not co-sign a loan for him, but would allow Brandon to purchase the motorcycle if he could finance it himself. Once Brandon was approved for financing, Pitts told Brandon to call his father to approve Brandon's purchase of the motorcycle. To give Brandon privacy, Pitts stepped away from his desk as Brandon used the telephone. In affidavits, Brandon's parents testified that no call was made to them and that they did not have any conversation with Brandon consenting to the purchase. Brandon told Pitts he spoke with his father and that his father approved of the purchase.

¶ 10. While verifying Brandon's credit information, Pitts asked to see Brandon's driver's license. Brandon presented a valid Mississippi driver's license. However, the license did not have an "E" endorsement. Pitts told Brandon he would need to obtain an "E" endorsement in order to operate his motorcycle on the highway and Brandon nodded his head in agreement.

¶ 11. After completing the credit approval process, Pitts asked another employee of Laurel Yamaha, Dirk Creel ("Creel"), to go over the features of the motorcycle with Brandon. After the sales transaction was completed, Pitts saw Brandon leave the premises on the motorcycle. Pitts testified that when Brandon left the premises, he was operating the *901 motorcycle competently and observing the rules of traffic. Pitts saw Brandon operating the motorcycle on the street later that same day as an experienced driver would. Other than one day after the sale, when Brandon came to Laurel Yamaha to make a payment, Pitts testified he had no further contact with Brandon or the Freemans after completion of the sale.

¶ 12. An "E" endorsement is required to operate a motorcycle on the highways of the State of Mississippi. See Miss.Code Ann. § 63-1-6 Rev.2004).[1] The statute states specifically "upon the highways" of the state. Laurel Yamaha asserts, and the Freemans concede, Mississippi law does not require an "E" endorsement for motorcyclists who choose to operate their motorcycles on race tracks, off-road areas, driving courses or private property. Furthermore, according to the Freemans, twenty-one days before the purchase of the motorcycle, Brandon took and failed the motorcycle licensing test. Pitts testified Brandon did not tell him he had taken and failed the test.

¶ 13. Three days after the sale, Brandon left his parents' home for a ride on the motorcycle. Brandon's friend, Staples, riding his own motorcycle, was with Brandon. Staples testified he and Brandon went riding sometime between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. on Mississippi Highway 15, which has a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. A speed advisory sign indicating 45 miles per hour was posted within .3 miles of the crash site. Around 9:30 p.m., Brandon and Staples decided to return to their respective homes. Staples testified when he pulled into his driveway, Brandon continued to travel northbound going to his parents' home. Staples stopped and watched Brandon, and from his driveway, Staples saw Brandon leave the highway and then saw the motorcycle flipping. Staples rode his motorcycle up a hill to where Brandon was located. He found Brandon unconscious, ten feet from his motorcycle.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
956 So. 2d 897, 2007 WL 1558740, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/laurel-yamaha-inc-v-freeman-miss-2007.