Bell v. West

The question presented in this appeal is whether the owner of a motor vehicle can be held liable under the family purpose doctrine for personal injuries caused by his child’s negligent operation of the vehicle where the child has not lived in his household for several years. We hold that the family purpose doctrine does not apply on the facts of this case and affirm.

I

Luther Bell instituted this negligence action in 1967 seeking damages for personal injuries received when he *392fell from the back of a Ford pickup truck, owned by Ozie West and then being driven by his son, Kenny West. The…