Routh Wrecker Service, Inc. v. Wins

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

This case requires us to construe statutes that relate to the ownership of a stolen car. On May 11,1990, Connie and Shirley Aday of Russellville sold their jointly owned 1976 Cadillac automobile to Car Brokers, who, in turn, sold the car to M.C. Wins, a used car dealer. Wins testified that he paid $2,400.00 for the car and took an open title. He explained that this meant Car Brokers signed the certificate of title as the seller but did not list Wins as the buyer. Instead, the space for the name of the buyer recited “first re-assignment by licensed dealer only.” Wins…