Vest v. Kramer

111 N.E.2d 696, 64 Ohio Law. Abs. 315
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 2, 1951
DocketNos. 22194, 22196
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 111 N.E.2d 696 (Vest v. Kramer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vest v. Kramer, 111 N.E.2d 696, 64 Ohio Law. Abs. 315 (Ohio Ct. App. 1951).

Opinion

OPINION

By SKEEL, PJ.

This appeal comes to this court on questions of law from a judgment entered for defendant in the common pleas court of Cuyahoga County. The plaintiff, a minor of twelve years of age, brings this action by his father and next friend against the defendant, seeking damages for personal injuries suffered in an accident which occurred March 16, 1948.

There was also joined in this appeal the loss of services case of the father of David Vest. The court having entered a judgment against the plaintiff in that case, for the same reasons, and the errors upon appeal being the same, the results herein reached will apply to both cases, although the opinion is written as though it applies only to the case of David Vest, a minor.

The plaintiff, David Vest, a minor, was a member of Boy Scout Troop No. 214 in Berea. The defendant was assistant Scout Master of the troop. The troop was engaged in collecting waste paper to raise money for troop activities. The boys had collected and taken paper procured from homes, to the curb lawn. The defendant procured a two-wheel trailer, the bed of which was eight feet long and about four feet wide with side-boards about ten to twelve inches high. He attached the said trailer to the rear bumper of his automobile and with the help of the boys from the troop, including the plaintiff, loaded the paper into the trailer to take it to the Fair Grounds from which point it was to be sold. The paper was loaded on to the trailer until it was “filled and over-heaped.” Several of the boys, including the plaintiff, with the knowledge and approval of the defendant, climbed on [317]*317top of the over-heaped papers for the purpose of riding to the Fair Grounds to unload them and also to hold the papers down enroute so that they would not slip or fall off.

The plaintiff’s opening statement was then, in part, as follows:

“* * * and after moving a short distance the overheaped papers became insecure and some fell off and defendant was advised thereof, and slowed down the speed of his automobile, and while this plaintiff, after replacing the dislodged papers was climbing aboard said moving trailer, defendant suddenly and without warning caused his auto and said trailer to move forward with increased speed and this plaintiff lost his grip and balance, whereupon his right foot became caught in one of the wheels of the trailer and in turn he was thrown under the wheels of said trailer and his left leg was twisted over his shoulder and broken and his right foot was badly bruised, wrenched and twisted, while defendant continued forward with said automobile and trailer. And we claim that, and expect to prove, that it caused David Vest, this minor plaintiff, severe and lasting injuries to his person.”

Upon the conclusion of plaintiff’s opening statement, which incorporated the allegations of his petition, the defendant moved for a directed verdict on the ground that the plaintiff at the time he was injured was a “guest” of the defendant in riding on the trailer attached to his (the defendant’s) automobile, and there being no claim that the plaintiff was injured by the wilful or wanton misconduct of the defendant, under the provisions of §6308-6 GC, a cause of action was not stated. The court granted said motion, dismissed the plaintiff’s petition and entered judgment for the defendant.

The plaintiff assigns the following errors:

“1. The trial court erred in granting the motion of defendant appellee for judgment in his favor upon the pleadings.

“2. The trial court erred in granting defendant’s motion for judgment in his favor upon the opening statement of counsel.

“3. The trial court erred in-granting defendant’s motion for judgment in his favor upon the pleadings and upon the opening statement of counsel.

“4. That the trial court erred in dismissing plaintiff-appellant’s petition and rendering judgment for defendant.”

The “guest” statute provides as follows:

“Sec. 6308-6 GC. Liability of owners and operators of motor vehicles to guests. The owner, operator or person responsible for the operation of a motor vehicle shall not be liable for loss or damage arising from injuries to or death of a guest while being transported without payment therefor in [318]*318or upon said motor vehicle, resulting from the operation thereof, unless such injuries or death are caused by the wilful or wanton misconduct of such operator, owner or person responsible for the operation of said motor vehicle.”

In considering the plaintiff’s claims of error, two questions are presented.

1. Is the type of trailer admittedly used by the defendant to haul scrap paper and which was not designed to carry passengers, said to be a ‘motor vehicle’ within the meaning of that term as used in the ‘guest’ statute?

2. Was the plaintiff a ‘guest’ as the term is used in §6308-6 GC, while engaged with the defendant in the task of collecting scrap paper for Scout Troop No. 214, in which the plaintiff was a member and defendant an assistant Scout Master, the project being one in the interest of the troop? To create the relationship of host and guest to come within the meaning of the guest statute, the privilege of riding afforded the guest must be entirely gratuitous. No benefit, as compensation, for the ride, can flow to the host other than the pleasure of the guest’s company during the trip.

In the case of Hasbrook v. Wingate, 152 Oh St 50, at pages 56 and 57 the Court says:

“The general rule is that if the transportation of a rider confers a benefit only on the person to whom the ride is given, and no benefits other than such as are incidental to hospitality, good will or the like, on the person furnishing the transportation, the rider is a guest; but, if his carriage tends to promote the mutual interest of both himself and the driver for their common benefit, thus creating a joint business relationship between the motorist and his rider, or where the rider accompanies the driver at the instance of the latter for the purpose of having the rider render a benefit or services to the driver on a trip which is primarily for the attainment of some objective of the driver, the rider is a passenger and not a guest. 60 Corpus Juris Secundum, 1012, 1913, Sec. 399 (5); Scholz v. Leuer, 7 Wash. (2d) 76, 109 P. (2d) 294; Peery v. Mershon, 149 Fla. 351, 5 So. (2d) 694. See: Chaplower v. Powsner. 119 Conn. 188, 175 A. 470, 95 A. L. R. 1177; Eubanks v. Kielsmeier, 171 Wash. 484, 18 P. (2d) 48; Clendenning Admr. v. Simerman, 220 Iowa 739, 263 N. W. 248; Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. v. Stitzle, 220 Ind. 180, 41 N. E. (2d) 133.”

The facts stated by the plaintiff in his opening statement were to the effect that the defendant was directing the plaintiff and other boys in a Boy Scout activity. The plaintiff was under the supervision and care of the defendant. The defendant, in effect, stood “in loco parentis” with the plaintiff [319]*319in providing for his safety, while engaged in Scout activities under his direction. As Scout Master, in directing the activities of the members of his troop, wherein the use of his motor vehicle became essential in carrying on such activities, he has the duty to exercise ordinary care in providing for the safety of the Scouts who become his passengers. The guest statute does not apply under such circumstances. The parties under these facts are each acting for their joint benefit in a common enterprise.

In the case of Woodman et al v.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

McGarr v. Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc.
536 A.2d 728 (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, 1988)
Ago
Florida Attorney General Reports, 1979
Pacific Intermountain Express Co. v. State Tax Commission
329 P.2d 650 (Utah Supreme Court, 1958)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
111 N.E.2d 696, 64 Ohio Law. Abs. 315, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vest-v-kramer-ohioctapp-1951.