PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW OF A DECISION OF …

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA _____________________________________

CASE NO. SC05-961 Lower Tribunal No: 3D04-354 _____________________________________

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

THIRD DISTRICT 898 So.2d 967

_____________________________________

SHERYL BENSON

Petitioner,

v.

AARON HINTON, ALFREDA PATTERSON, and ENTERPRISE LEASING COMPANY SOUTHEAST,

Respondents, ____________________________________________________

INITIAL BRIEF ON THE MERITS OF PETITIONER SHERYL BENSON _____________________________________________________

Respectfully submitted,

BERNSTEIN, CHACKMAN & LISS P.O. Box 223340 Hollywood, FL 33022 Telephone: (954) 986-9600

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents ................................................................................................ i

Table of Authorities ...........................................................................................iii

Statement of the Case and the Facts .................................................................... 1

Standard of Review........................................................................................... 10

Summary of the Argument ................................................................................ 11

Argument ......................................................................................................... 16

DOES THE LAW OF THE RESIDENCE OF THE PARTIES APPLY TO DETERMINE THE ALLEGED VICARIOUS LIABILITY OF A NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT WHO LEASES A VEHICLE IN NORTH CAROLINA WHICH IS OWNED BY A NORTH CAROLINA COMPANY, WHEN THAT LESSEE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR WHEN AN ACCIDENT OCCURS IN FLORIDA KILLING ANOTHER NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE, OR, DO PROVISIONS IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT STATING THAT THE LIABILITY PROTECTION OF THE LESSOR SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE MINIMUM FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LIMITS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND IDENTIFYING FLORIDA AS ONE OF THE STATES WHERE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINE, UNDER THESE FACTS, THAT FLORIDA LAW GOVERNS THE VICARIOUS LIABILITY OF THE LESSEE FOR DAMAGES

Choice of Law Analysis ................................................................................... 16

Application of the Restatement Principles to the Undisputed Facts of this Case........................................................................................................... 21

i

1. The place where the injury occurred ................................................. 21 2. The place where the conduct causing the injury occurred................... 24 3. The domicile, residence, and nationality of the parties....................... 24 4. The place where the relationship, if any, between the parties is

centered........................................................................31 Application of Section 6 Principles.................................................................... 32

a. The needs of interstate and international systems.............................. 32 b. The relevant policies of the forum.................................................... 33 c. The relevant policies of other interested states and the relative

interests of those states in the determination of the particular issue... 34 d. The protection of justified expectations............................................ 36 The Rental Agreement Does Not Create a Justified Expectation that Florida law should apply to Benson's liability for damages to the Hinton Estate .......................................................................................... 36 e. The basic policies underlying the particular field of law .................... 38 f. The certainty, predictability and uniformity of result ......................... 40 g. The ease in determination and application of the law to be

applied ........................................................................................... 40 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 42 Certificate of Service ........................................................................................ 43 Certificate of Compliance ................................................................................. 44

ii

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CASES American Tours, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 338 S.E. 2d 92 (1986) ............. 38 Aurbach v. Gallina, 753 So.2d 60 (Fla. 2000) .................................................... 33 Avis Rent-A-Car Systems, Inc. v. Abrahantes, 559 So.2d 1262 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990) .......................................................................................... 13 Bishop v. Florida Specialty Paint Co., 389 So.2d 999 (Fla. 1980)................................................................................. 11,12,17,19,23,30 Blanton v. City of Pinellas Park, 887 So.2d 1224 (2004) .................................... 10 Bogen v. Bogen, 18 S.E. 2d 162 (1942) ............................................................. 34 Brown v. National Car Rental Systems, Inc., 707 So.2d 394 (Fla. 3d DCA 1998) ..................................................... 13,25,29,30 Brown v. Ward, 20 S.E.2d 324 (N.C. 1942) ....................................................... 35 Coble v. Knight, 503 S.E.2d 703 (N.C. 1998) .................................................... 35 Deemer v. Budget Rent-A-Car Systems, Inc., 704 So.2d 133 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997)..............................................1,6,9,11,26,30,42 Freeman v. Biggers Brothers, Inc., 132 S.E.2d 626 (N.C. 1963).......................... 35 Frenkel v. Fleming, 69 So.2d 887 (Fla. 1957) .................................................... 33 Harris v. Berkowitz, 433 So.2d 613 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983) ............. 21,22,23,29,31,33 Heath v. Kirkman, 82 S.E.2d 104 (1954) ........................................................... 34 Hertz Corp. v. Jackson, 617 So.2d 1051 (Fla. 1993) ........................................... 33

iii

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download