Havlina v. Guaranty Chevrolet Co.

In this action for personal injuries, plaintiff’s primary contention is that he was not a guest passenger of the defendant’s driver at the time of the accident. A jury returned a verdict for defendant, and plaintiff appeals from the judgment.

Plaintiff and defendant Gary Patton, an employee of defendant Guaranty Chevrolet Co., lived in Eugene and were close friends. On the evening of October 8, 1970, Gary was directed by his employer to drive a tow track to Bend to pick ap a vehicle at a wrecking yard. Gary, who planned to leave about 5:30 the next morning, called plaintiff and asked him to…