Greater Houston Transportation Co. v. Wilson

OPINION

MURPHY, Justice.

In consolidated actions appellees sued for actual and exemplary damages for their injuries sustained in a three-car accident involving a Yellow Cab driven by appellant Marvin Hughes. Appellants Greater Houston Transportation Company, Houston Cab Company, and Yellow Cab Company (the cab companies) attempted to avoid vicarious liability for Hughes’s actions on the theory that he was not an authorized or permiissive user of the Yellow Cab. Before trial, the court entered a default judgment on liability against Hughes as a sanction for failing to appear for depositions.…