Levine v. Standard Oil Co.

This case involves the question of whether an oil company, which produces and distributes gasoline and related products, is liable in tort for injuries suffered by a customer at a filling station owned by the company, but leased by it to a person who operated it under the lease as his own business. We hold the oil company is not liable under the present facts for negligence of the operator-lessee.

Bellman M. Levine, appellant, brought this action in the Circuit Court of Harrison County against Howard E. Hearon, Milton Smith, and appellee Standard Oil Company, Inc. in Kentucky (called Standard…