Shatoska v. Whiddon

468 So. 2d 1314
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 16, 1985
Docket84 CA 0301
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 468 So. 2d 1314 (Shatoska v. Whiddon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shatoska v. Whiddon, 468 So. 2d 1314 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

468 So.2d 1314 (1985)

Audrey SHATOSKA, wife of/and Lynn SHATOSKA, individually and as administrators of the estate of their minor child, Tracy Shatoska
v.
James "Jim" WHIDDON, individually and as administrator of the estate of his minor child, Brad Whiddon, State Farm Fire & Casualty Company and Dairyland Insurance Company.

No. 84 CA 0301.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

April 16, 1985.
Writ Denied June 17, 1985.

*1315 Edward A. Shamis, Jr., Slidell, for plaintiffs-appellants, Audrey Shatoska, wife of/and Lynn Shatoska, Ind., & administrators of the estate of their minor child, Tracy Shatoska.

John Dale Powers, Baton Rouge, for defendants-appellees, James "Jim" Whiddon and State Farm Fire Casualty Co.

Paul Marks, Jr., Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellee, Dairyland Ins. Co.

Before COLE, CARTER and LANIER, JJ.

CARTER, Judge.

This is an appeal by plaintiffs from the trial judge's granting of motions for summary judgment.

FACTS

On or about October 23, 1981, Tracy Shatoska was injured in an accident when the motorbike on which she was riding was driven into the path of a pick-up truck. The motorbike was owned by James Whiddon and, at the time of the accident, was being driven by his minor son Brad Whiddon.

Suit was filed by Lynn and Audrey Shatoska, individually and on behalf of their minor child, Tracy, against James Whiddon, Brad Whiddon, State Farm Fire and Casualty Company (State Farm), Whiddon's homeowner's insurer, and Dairyland Insurance Company, Whiddon's uninsured motorist insurer.[1] In their petition, plaintiffs *1316 alleged liability on the part of James Whiddon as follows: (1) vicarious liability for the negligence of his minor son; (2) liability for his own independent negligence in failing to properly supervise his minor son; and (3) liability as administrator of the estate of Brad Whiddon.

State Farm filed a motion for summary judgment on August 25, 1983. A supplemental motion for summary judgment was filed by State Farm on behalf of James Whiddon on October 7, 1983. This supplemental motion alleged that James Whiddon was not responsible for the tortious acts of his minor child because custody of the minor child had been awarded to the mother. A hearing on both motions was held on October 28, 1983.

The trial judge, for written reasons assigned, found that, as a matter of law, James Whiddon was not vicariously liable for the tortious conduct of his minor son. Additionally, the trial judge found that since the accident occurred (1) out of the operation of a motor vehicle, (2) by an insured, and (3) off the insured premises, the exclusionary clause of the State Farm policy is applicable. A formal judgment signed on December 19, 1983, dismissed plaintiffs' suit with prejudice.

From this judgment, plaintiffs appeal.[2]

Terms of Judgment

The trial judge's written reasons for judgment clearly demonstrate he found no genuine issue of material fact as to Whiddon's vicarious liability for the negligence of his minor son and the liability of State Farm. Therefore, the trial judge granted the motions for summary judgment on behalf of Whiddon and State Farm. However, the formal judgment rendered by the trial judge provided:

IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the summary judgment, filed on behalf of defendants, James "Jim" Whiddon and State Farm Fire & Casualty Company, and it is hereby granted, and plaintiffs' suit is dismissed, with prejudice, at plaintiffs' costs. (Emphasis added)

For purposes of this appeal, the trial court judgment is controlling, even though the trial judge may have intended otherwise. Hebert v. Hebert, 351 So.2d 1199 (La.1977); Sibley v. Insured Lloyds, 442 So.2d 627 (La.App. 1st Cir.1983); Myer v. Pagan, 439 So.2d 501 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1983).

Summary Judgment

Summary judgment should be granted if there is no genuine issue of material fact and the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. LSA-C.C.P. art. 966; Chaisson v. Domingue, 372 So.2d 1225 (La.1979); Manzella v. Terrebonne Parish Police Jury, 432 So.2d 414 (La.App. 1st Cir.1983).

In determining whether material issues have in fact been disposed of, any doubt is to be resolved against granting the summary judgment and in favor of trial on the merits. Sanders v. Hercules Sheet Metal, Inc., 385 So.2d 772 (La.1980); Chaisson v. Domingue, supra.

A. Vicarious liability of James Whiddon for acts of his minor son.

In his written reasons for judgment, the trial judge stated:

Brad's mother was awarded legal custody, care and control of Brad Whiddon on October 27, 1980 by judgment in Family Court of East Baton Rouge Parish, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The entire suit record was entered into evidence at the time of the hearing. The custody decree was still in effect at the time of the accident. Any liability, if any, of Jim Whiddon for the tortious acts of his minor son was suspended by virtue of the 1980 custody decree. Frazer vs Day, 307 So.2d 733 (La.1977 [1975]); Guidry v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, 201 So.2d 523 [534] (La.App. 3rd Cir.1967); Flannigan vs Valliant, 400 So.2d 225 (La.App. [4th *1317 Cir.] 1981). Thus, Jim Whiddon has no vicarious liability for the tortious acts of his minor son Brad as a matter of law.

A thorough review of the record convinces us that the trial judge was correct in determining that Jim Whiddon is not vicariously liable for the tortious acts of his minor son as a matter of law.

B. Liability of State Farm

Defendants assert that under the terms of the policy, the homeowner's policy excludes coverage for accidents arising out of the use of motor vehicles. On page 8 of the policy is found:
Coverage L—Personal Liability and Coverage M—Medical Payments to Others do not apply to:
. . . . .
e. bodily injury or property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, use, loading or unloading of:...
(2) a motor vehicle owned or operated by, or rented or loaned to any insured; ...

Defendant Whiddon contends that he gave the motorbike to his son Brad. (Whiddon's Deposition pages 6-7). Page 2 of the policy defines `insured' in the following manner:

3. `insured' means you and the following residents of your household:
a. your relatives; ...

Residence and domicile are not synonomous. Bond v. Commercial Union Assurance Company, 407 So.2d 401 (La. 1981). According to Jim Whiddon's deposition, page 11, the minor Brad was living with his father.

Q. Okay, on the day of the accident, October 23rd of 1981, you did state that Bradley—his full name is Bradley?
A. Right.
Q. —that Brad was living with you all?
A. He was living with me at the time.
Q. Okay. Was your wife living with you at the same time?
A. No, she was not.
Q. And had you commenced domestic proceedings at that time; were any lawsuits pending?
A. We were legally separated at the time; divorce had been filed for; and, like I said, she had legal custody at the time of him and the other kids. I was fighting it.

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Bluebook (online)
468 So. 2d 1314, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shatoska-v-whiddon-lactapp-1985.