Uhrbach v. Lin

601 So. 2d 755, 1992 WL 117283
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 22, 1992
DocketCA 91 0692, CA 91 0693 and CA 91 0694
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 601 So. 2d 755 (Uhrbach v. Lin) 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
Uhrbach v. Lin, 601 So. 2d 755, 1992 WL 117283 (La. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

601 So.2d 755 (1992)

Gene Joseph UHRBACH and Laura D. Akenhead Uhrbach
v.
Hsi Wen LIN, et al.
Adrian L. BRUNSON and Donna C. Brunson, Individually and as Natural Tutor and Tutrix of Sandra J. Brunson
v.
Hsi Wen LIN, et al.
Carolyn E. FREY
v.
Hsi Wen LIN, Louise Lin, Colonial Lloyd's Insurance Company, John Brett Garafola, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, New Generation, Inc. and ABC Insurance Company.

Nos. CA 91 0692, CA 91 0693 and CA 91 0694.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

May 22, 1992.
Writ Denied October 2, 1992.

James Wood, Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellant Gene Uhrbach.

John Dardenne, Jr., Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellant Adrian Brunson, et al.

Ossie Brown, Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellant Carolyn Frey.

*756 Richard Deas, Metairie, for defendant-appellee Hsi Wen Lin, Colonial Lloyds Ins. Co.

William Faller, Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellee Numa Mae Castillo.

Henry Terhoeve, Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellee John Brett Garafola.

Frank Gremillion, Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellee City of Baton Rouge.

James Thompson, III, Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellee New Generation, Inc.

Before SHORTESS, LANIER and CRAIN, JJ.

LANIER, Judge.

These actions are three consolidated suits for damages in tort arising out of an automobile accident. One of the parties defendant, New Generation, Inc. (NG), filed peremptory exceptions raising the objections of no cause of action and no right of action in each suit. After a hearing, the trial court ruled the petitions did not state a cause of action against NG and gave the plaintiffs fifteen days to amend their petitions to state a cause of action as provided for in La.C.C.P. art. 934. The plaintiffs did not amend and the trial court thereafter rendered judgment dismissing the claims against NG with prejudice. These devolutive appeals followed.

FACTS

The petition in the Brunson case[1] alleges the following pertinent facts:

1.

Made defendants herein are:

(a) Hsi Wen Lin, a resident of lawful age of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
(b) Louise Lin, a resident of lawful age of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
. . . . .
(d) John Brett Garafola, a resident of lawful age of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
. . . . .
(f) New Generation, Inc., a Louisiana corporation authorized to do and doing business in the State of Louisiana which has appointed Donald J. LeBlanc as its agent for service of process;
. . . . .
2.
On or about May 22, 1988 at approximately 6:30 p.m., Sandra J. Brunson was a passenger in the bed of a 1985 Toyota pickup truck, which was owned by Louise Lin and operated by Hsi Wen Lin, travelling northbound at or near the 2400 block of Drusilla Lane in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
3.
Suddenly and without warning the truck swerved off the road, struck a culvert and flipped over causing the damages referred to hereinafter.
4.
Petitioners, Adrian L. Brunson, III and Donna C. Brunson, are the natural parents of Sandra J. Brunson.
5.
At all times pertinent hereto, Sandra J. Brunson was riding as a guest passenger in the truck being operated by defendant, Hsi Wen Lin, with the consent and permission of his sister, Louise Lin, who was the registered owner of the vehicle.
6.
Based upon information and belief, defendant, Hsi Wen Lin, was engaged in a "drag race" or some other form of unwise, imprudent and negligent conduct with another motor vehicle being driven by, and believed to be owned by, John Brett Garafola.
7.
Based upon information and belief, prior to the aforesaid accident, both defendants Lin and Garafola had consumed alcoholic beverages in the parking lot of *757 the New Generation store, owned by the defendant, New Generation, Inc., and located on Staring Lane in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
8.
Based on information and belief, both Lin and Garafola, as well as hundreds of other persons, were in attendance at the "Crank-It-Up" contest sponsored by New Generation, Inc., at which event young people were encouraged to play their automobile stereos in a loud manner to determine which was loudest.
9.
A proximate cause of the aforesaid accident and resulting damages was the fault and negligence of Hsi Wen Lin whose negligent acts include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Failing to maintain control of his vehicle;
(b) Operating his vehicle in a reckless manner;
(c) Failing to maintain a proper lookout;
(d) Travelling at an excessive rate of speed under the circumstances;
(e) Engaging in unwise, imprudent, irresponsible and reckless conduct or "drag racing" when he knew or should have known of the inherent danger of such activity;
(f) Disregarding the traffic rules of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and State of Louisiana;
(g) Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages; and
(h) Any other act of negligence which may be proven at the trial of this matter.
10.
A proximate cause of the aforesaid accident and resulting damages was the fault and negligence of John Brett Garafola whose negligent acts include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Failing to maintain control of his vehicle;
(b) Operating his vehicle in a reckless manner;
(c) Failing to maintain a proper lookout;
(d) Travelling at an excessive rate of speed under the circumstances;
(e) Engaging in unwise, imprudent, irresponsible and reckless conduct or "drag racing" when he knew or should have known of the inherent danger of such activity;
(f) Disregarding the traffic rules of the Parish of East Baton Rouge and State of Louisiana;
(g) Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages; and
(h) Any other act of negligence which may be proven at the trial of this matter.
11.
A proximate cause of the aforesaid accident and resulting damages was the fault and negligence of New Generation, Inc., whose negligent acts include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Allowing the consumption of alcoholic beverages in its parking lot on Staring Lane in the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana;
(b) Failing to adequately supervise those in attendance and failing to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises;
(c) Providing uniformed security personnel, but failing to instruct such personnel to prevent the consumption of alcohol on the premises;

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
601 So. 2d 755, 1992 WL 117283, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/uhrbach-v-lin-lactapp-1992.