Schlemmer v. Fireman's Fund Insurance

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

This case involves a choice-of-law question. On the night of May 9,1981, when the substantive law of Arkansas still contained a guest statute, the plaintiff, Donna Schlemmer, drove her car from Memphis, Tennessee, to the home of Rochelle Smith in West Memphis, Arkansas. There, plaintiff and Rochelle got into an uninsured vehicle, which was owned by Rochelle’s sister, and drove to a party at another location in West Memphis. They drank some beer and, at about 10 p.m., plaintiff told Rochelle that she wanted to go home. Rochelle did not want to leave the party, but…