Hessler v. Ford

I. Plaintiff sustained personal injuries when he fell from a tractor driven by defendant, Dennis Ford, and owned by defendant, Delbert Ford. He brought an action for damages based upon negligence. The trial court sustained a motion for directed verdict on the ground that plaintiff had failed to sustain his burden of proving that he was riding upon the tractor in some relationship to defendants other than as a guest. This is the sole question before us on this appeal.

Section 321.494 of the Code of Iowa provides:

“Guest statute. The owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall not be liable for…