Dreher v. Budget Rent-A-Car System, Inc.

OPINION BY Justice CYNTHIA D. KINSER.

This appeal presents a choice of law question in the context of two personal injury actions. We must decide whether a New York statute, which imposes vicarious liability on the owner of a vehicle for death or injuries caused by the negligence of a person operating the vehicle with the owner's permission, is a matter of tort, meaning Virginia's substantive law applies, or a matter of contract, meaning the New York statute applies. Because we conclude the latter, we will reverse the circuit court's judgment applying Virginia substantive law and holding that…