Devlin v. Florida Rent-A-Car, Inc.

ORFINGER, Judge.

Plaintiffs appeal from an adverse summary judgment in an action for personal injuries. Thé sole issue presented is whether, under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine, the owner of a motor vehicle is vicariously liable to a bailee passenger who is injured as a result of the negligence of the driver of the automobile to whom the bailee has entrusted its operation. The trial court held that as a matter of law the owner was not liable. We agree and affirm.

Plaintiff, James Devlin, rented an automobile from defendant Florida Rent-A-Car, Inc. While en route to Miami, Devlin…