Kieft v. Barr

Plaintiff-appellant appeals from a directed verdict 1 in favor of defendant-appellee for failure by plaintiff to establish gross negligence as a matter of law in this automobile guest passenger case. 2 We reverse and remand for a new trial.

The parties agree that the following events occurred. Plaintiff Laird Edward Kieft was guest passenger in an automobile driven by defendant’s decedent, Robert John Corkins. Both men were off duty state troopers. They had spent the night prior to the day of the instant accident in Caro, Michigan at a hotel operated by a cousin of Corkins. On the day of the…