Samuel M. Depriest and Dorothy Depriest v. Richard Greeson, as Personal etc.

In the gap between a decedent’s death and the appointment of a personal representative, does Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine make the estate vicariously liable for damages that the decedent’s child allegedly caused while driving the decedent’s car? On the specific facts presented here, which are undisputed, the trial court concluded that the estate is not liable, and granted summary judgment in favor of the personal representative. On these facts, but on reasoning different from that articulated in the final judgment, we affirm.

Use of Decedent’s Car

Decedent and his wife lived…