Legal Opinion
Oliveira v. Lombardi
Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Decided April 3, 2002No. 2001-27-Appeal, 2000-273-AppealPublishedCited by 30 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
OPINION
FLANDERS, J.
By statute, motor vehicle owners in Rhode Island are subject to vicarious liability for the negligence of drivers who operate the owners’ vehicles with their consent. But do these laws apply to motor-vehicle owners who are in the business of financing long-term leases of their vehicles? The plain language of the Motor-Vehicle Code, G.L.1956 § 31 — 1—17(b), as amended by P.L. 1994, ch. 417 § 1, defines an owner as “[a] person who holds the legal title to a vehicle.” 1 Long-term lessors of motor vehicles hold legal title to the “for hire” motor vehicles they lease. The…
2Cases cited16 opinions
- Accent Store Design, Inc. v. Marathon House, Inc.Supreme Court of Rhode Island · 1996
- Brennan v. KirbySupreme Court of Rhode Island · 1987
- Webster v. PerrottaSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2001
- Defenders of Animals, Inc. v. Department of Environmental ManagementSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 1989
- DiQuinzio v. Panciera Lease Co., Inc.Supreme Court of Rhode Island · 1992
11 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by30 opinions
- Tanner v. Town Council of Town of East GreenwichSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2005
- Arnold v. Rhode Island Department of LaborSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2003
- America Condominium Association v. IDC, Inc.Supreme Court of Rhode Island · 2004
- Keystone Elevator Co. v. Johnson & Wales UniversitySupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2004
- Interstate Navigation Co. v. Division of Public Utilities & Carriers of the StateSupreme Court of Rhode Island · 2003
25 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.