Dorsey v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance

The question before the court today is whether an unemancipated minor child may maintain a cause of action in negligence against the estate of the child’s deceased parent and her liability insurance company. For the reasons to follow, we answer that question in the affirmative.

In Karam v. Allstate Ins. Co. (1982), 70 Ohio St. 2d 227 [24 O.O.3d 327], this court identified the reasons for retention of the doctrine of parental immunity to be: preservation of family tranquility, possible interference with parental discipline and control, risks of fraud and collusion due to the predominance of…