Update on Judicial Action Involving Federal Law Eliminating Vicarious Liability (Graves Amendment)

Court cases continue to be filed following the enactment of federal vicarious liability preemption on August 10, 2005 challenging the authority of the law known as the Graves Amendment. The following are brief summaries of the major cases in which the court has issued rulings. The Industry Council for Vehicle Renting and Leasing is tracking these and other court cases where application and/or interpretation of the federal vicarious liability repeal statute is involved. TRALA and the Industry Council have filed amicus briefs on behalf of the industry in eight of these cases, six of which have subsequently resulted in positive decisions (Graham v. Dunkley and NILT, Inc., Garcia v. Vanguard, Bechina v. Enterprises Leasing Company, Kumarsingh v. PV Holding and Avis Rent-A-Car System, Merchants Insurance Group v. Mitsubishi Motor Credit Association and Poole v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car). Two cases in which TRALA and the Industry Council have filed an amicus briefs is still pending (Vargas v. Enterprise Leasing Company).

Merchants Insurance Group v. Mitsubishi Motor Credit Association - U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
POSITIVE DECISION

On December 16, 2009 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed an earlier decision of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York by vacating the District Court’s judgment. The case was an appeal by Merchant’s Insurance Group to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and on March 3, 2008, TRALA filed an amicus brief supporting Mitsubishi Motor Credit Association (MMCA) and arguing that the Graves Amendment preempted New York State’s vicarious liability law, as the District Court had previously ruled. However, the Court of Appeals ruled that the original lawsuit in the case commenced before the Graves Amendment became federal law, so the preemption should not apply to this case. U.S. Court of Appeals Decision

The U.S. Court of Appeal’s ruling vacated the ruling by the District Court for the Eastern District of New York, which had ruled in favor of MMCA on September 25, 2007, by granting their motion for summary judgment based on the preemptive nature of the Graves Amendment (49 USC 30106) over New York vicarious liability law. In granting MMCA’s motion for summary judgment, the District Court stated the "courts have consistently held that the Graves Amendment prohibits states from imposing vicarious liability on owner-lessors such as defendants where the lessor is not negligent." Addressing the constitutionality of the federal statute, the court stated that " to date, only one court has found the Graves Amendment unconstitutional. . .Graham [v. Dunkley], however, has not been followed by any other court. To the contrary, a number of courts have explicitly found the statute constitutional." Memorandum and Order Granting Defendants Motion

It is important to note that even though the U.S. Court of Appeals’ ruling reversed the District Court ruling that affirmed the Graves Amendment, the Court of Appeal’s decision does not challenge the authority of the Graves Amendment. In the ruling the Court of Appeals specifically stated that “In the instant case, there is no dispute that, if Merchant’s suit against MMCA was commenced after the Graves Amendment’s effective date, the Graves Amendment preempts New York law and precludes Merchants’ claim.”

Meyer v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car - Minnesota Cout of Appeals
POSITIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON APPEAL
POSITIVE DECISION IN MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT

On January 20, 2009, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed an earlier decision of the Otter Tail County District Court of Minnesota which granted Enterprise's motion for summary judgment in favor of Enterprise in Meyer v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car. In the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the judge rejected Meyer's contention that Minnesota Statutes § 169.09, subd. 5a, and Minnesota Statutes § 65B.49 subd. 5a(i)(2), which established caps on vicarious liability, were preserved by the Graves Amendment's savings clause which exempts "financial responsibility laws" from federal preemption. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decison of the District Court ruling that the existing statutes that established caps on vicarious liability are not financial responsibility laws and are not preserved by the Graves Amendment, the federal law codified at 49 U.S.C. § 30106. Minnesota Court of Appeals Decision.

In a subsequent appeal the Minnesota Supreme Court (TRALA Brief - Minnesota Supreme Court) issued a ruling that upheld the decision of the Minnesota Court of Appeals on January 14, 2010. In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated that “We conclude that there is nothing ambiguous about the statute. Minn. Stat. § 169.09, subd. 5a, is not a financial responsibility law that limits, or conditions liability of the rental-vehicle owner for failure to meet insurance-like requirements or liability insurance requirements within the meaning of the (b)(2) savings clause... Because there are no financial responsibility laws incorporated into subdivision 5a, we conclude that the statute does not fall within the (b)(2) savings clause.

Vargas v. Enterprise Leasing Company - Fourth District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida
POSITIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON APPEAL
APPEAL PENDING IN FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

On October 31, 2008, the Florida District Court of Appeal for the Fourth District affirmed an earlier trial court decision granting a motion for summary judgment in favor of Enterprise Leasing Company in the Vargas v. Enterprise case. The motion was granted pursuant to Enterprise’s claim that it could not be held vicariously liable due to the federal law known as the Graves Amendment (49 US 30106). The plaintiff contended that Florida Statute section 324.021(9)(b)2, which sets caps on vicarious liability, was preserved by the Graves Amendment’s provision that exempts “financial responsibility laws” from the federal law’s pre-emption. The appellate court stated in its decision that “section 324.031(9)(b)2 is not the type of law that Congress intended to exclude from preemption.” The court went on further to say that the “Florida legislature’s endorsement of and limitations on the vicarious liability imposed under the dangerous instrumentality doctrine is not a financial responsibility requirement.” TRALA Brief - Florida Supreme Court

Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc. v. Huchon - U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
NEGATIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING COMPELLED BY U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR 11th CIRCUIT

On September 14, 2007, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida denied both a motion (by federal court defendant Huchon) to dismiss Vanguard’s Petition for Declaratory Judgment and a motion (by federal court plaintiff Vanguard) for Summary Judgment.

The court denied Huchon’s motion to dismiss based on several provisions of law not directly related to vicarious liability or 49 US 30106 (the Graves Amendment). In considering Vanguard’s Petition for Declaratory Judgment, the court ruled that Huchon’s claim was not being made pursuant to Florida statute limiting liability of companies renting a vehicle for less than one year (Florida Statute Section 324.021). Instead the court ruled that the claim was being made pursuant to Florida’s Doctrine of Dangerous Instrumentality. Therefore, the court declared that “the only remaining issue is whether [the Graves Amendment] is constitutional.”

The court cited its disagreement with the March 5, 2007 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in the Garcia v Vanguard case in which the Graves Amendment was found to be constitutional under three separate tests of the U.S. Congress’ authority under the Commerce Clause. The court in Vanguard v Huchon held that “the direct language of 49 US 30106(b) regulates tort liability and does not directly regulate either channels of interstate commerce or the use of those channels.” Further, the court ruled that the Graves Amendment “does not regulate the use of instrumentalities of interstate commerce.” The court uses these findings to rule that “Congress exceeded the authority granted by the Commerce Clause when it enacted 49 USC 30106.” Based on this conclusion, the court denied Vanguard’s Petition for Declaratory Judgment. Court Order - Denying Motion to Dismiss; Denying Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment

On March 12, 2009, The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, reversed its September 14, 2007 decision and ruled in favor of Vanguard Car Rental. In its Final Judgment, the federal court ruled that the “vicarious liability claim is prohibited by the Graves Amendment…This case remains closed [and] all pending motions are denied as moot.” The court was compelled to reverse its earlier decision by the August 19, 2008 ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Garcia v. Vanguard. In that decision, the Graves Amendment was determined to be constitutional under all three categories of Congress’ powers under the Commerce Clause. The federal appellate court in Garcia also ruled that Florida’s statutes setting caps on vicarious liability were not financial responsibility statutes preserved by the Graves Amendment and were pre-empted by the federal law. All federal District courts in Alabama, Florida and Georgia must follow the U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Garcia v. Vanguard.
Final Judgment in favor of Vanguard Car Rental

Graham v. Dunkley and Nilt, Inc. – Supreme Court – Queens County, New York
NEGATIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON APPEAL
POSITIVE RULING BY NEW YORK COURT OF APPEALS

On September 11, 2006, the Supreme Court in Queens County, New York denied a motion made by Nissan Infiniti, LT in Graham v. Dunkley and NILT, Inc. to dismiss a vicarious liability claim. The motion to dismiss was based on the federal statute (49 USC 30106) that prohibits states from imposing liability solely on the basis of ownership. Judge Thomas Polizzi, in denying the motion, held that the federal statute “is an unconstitutional exercise of congressional authority under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 8.” The action in Graham v. Dunkley and Nilt, Inc. is the first case in which a court has ruled against the constitutionality of the federal statute. Court Opinion - Denial of Motion to Dismiss Graham v. Dunkley and Nilt, Inc.

The trial court decision in Graham v Dunkley was reversed by the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department of the Supreme Court on February 1, 2008. In its decision, the appellate court stated that “we agree with the weight of precedent that the Graves Amendment was a constitutional exercise of Congressional power pursuant to the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.” The appellate court declared unequivocally that “actions against rental and leasing companies based solely on vicarious liability may no longer be maintained.” Appellate Court Opinion and Order

On April 29, the state's highest court, the New York Court of Appeals, dismissed the plaintiff's appeal of the lower appellate court decision upholding the Graves Amendment. This action strongly affirms the authority of the Graves Amendment to preempt New York's unlimited vicarious liability law.

Bechina v. Enterprise Leasing Company - Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit – Miami Dade County, Florida
POSITIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON APPEAL

On April 24, 2007, the court granted a Motion for Summary Judgment made by defendant Enterprise Leasing Company. In granting the motion, the court agreed with the Enterprise arguments detailing the preemptive authority of the 49 US 30106 (the Graves Amendment). The court also agreed with the defendant that Florida’s statute capping vicarious liability involving motor vehicles rented for less than one year (Section 324.021) is not a financial responsibility statute preserved by the Graves Amendment language. Court Order Granting Motion for Summary Judgment and Notice of Appeal

Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals on December 12, 2007 upheld the preemptive authority of the Graves Amendment (49US30106) by affirming the 11th Circuit Court decision. In its opinion, the appellate court held that “motor vehicle leasing transactions unquestionably affect the channels of interstate commerce, the instrumentalities of interstate commerce, and intrastate activities substantially related to interstate commerce.” Apellate Court Opinion

Traitouros v. Wheels, Inc., Hoffman, La Roche and The La Roche Group - Supreme Court, Nassau County, New York
POSITIVE DECISION

On October 23, 2007, the Supreme Court, Nassau County, New York, granted defendant Wheels, Inc.’s motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s claim of vicarious liability pursuant to New York’s Vehicle Traffic Law Section 388. In response to the defendant’s motion based on the preemptive authority of Graves Amendment (49 USC 30106), the plaintiff cited the Graham v. Dunkley decision as an example that the New York Courts "have not had one view on this issue." In its order granting the motion to dismiss, the court stated that "this Court does not share the view held only by the Graham v. Dunkley Court. Rather, for the purposes of deciding this motion, the Federal statute is constitutional." Court Order Granting Motion to Dismiss

Deopersad Kumarsingh and Rosalie Kumarsingh, his Wife v. PV Holding Corporation and Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. – Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit – Miami-Dade County, Florida
POSITIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON APPEAL
POSITIVE RULING BY FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

On October 13, 2006, citing the Graves Amendment’s preemption of state vicarious liability laws, Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Michael A. Genden rendered a final judgment for the defendant ruling that they cannot be held vicariously liable for damages caused by their customer operating a rented vehicle. In his ruling, Judge Genden stated “the ‘Graves Amendment’ has abrogated vicarious liability of automobile lessors in the state of Florida effective August 10, 2005 and, therefore,…the defendants cannot be vicariously liable to plaintiffs…” Judge Genden went on to state that “the maximum liability for short term automobile lessors in section 324.021(9) Fla. Stat. are ‘caps’ on vicarious liability and are not ‘financial responsibility’ requirements for the privilege of owning/operating a motor vehicle in the state of Florida.” Court Decision - Final Judgment for Defendants

On October 3, 2007, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals ruled to affirm the October 13, 2006 decision of the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit Miami-Dade County. In its opinion, the Court of Appeals stated that "the trial court correctly concluded that the Graves Amendment, by its clear and unambiguous wording, supercedes and abolishes state vicarious liability laws." Appellate Court Order Affirming Decision

On May 19, the state's highest court, the Florida Supreme Court, denied the plaintiff's request to consider another appeal of the two lower court decisions upholding the authority of the Graves Amendment

Castillo v. Bradley and U-Haul Company of Oregon - Supreme Court, Kings County, New York
POSITIVE DECISION

On October 2, 2007, the Supreme Court, Kings County, New York granted defendant U-Haul’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s vicarious liability claim. In granting the motion, the court affirmed the preemptive authority of federal statute 49 US 30106 and the constutionality of the law.

In its decision, the court stated that "there is ample authority to the effect that the "Graves Amendment" has preempted New York’s vicarious liability law. The court also states that "the constutionality of the statute has been upheld in two out of the three federal court cases found to have considered the question" calling those cases "persuasive and controlling." Court Order Granting Defendant Motion to Dismiss

Seymour v. Penske Truck Leasing Company - U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division
POSITIVE DECISION

On July 30, 2007, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia, Savannah Division, granted defendant Penske Truck Leasing Company’s motion for summary judgment against the plaintiff’s claim for damages. The court found that Penske was not liable for the action of the driver not authorized to operate the vehicle under the rental agreement. The federal court also found that the Graves Amendment is a constitutional federal statute. In its decision, the court states that it has "no trouble concluding that 49 USC 30106...regulates commercial transactions (rentals or leases) involving instrumentalities of interstate commerce (motor vehicles - "the quintessential instrumentalities of modern interstate commerce"). Court Order Granting Defendant Motion for Summary Judgment

Iljazi v. Dugre, et al. (Enterprise Rent-A-Car) – Superior Court – Waterbury, Connecticut
POSITIVE DECISION

On April 13, the Superior Court of Connecticut Waterbury District granted defendant Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s motion to strike the plaintiff’s vicarious liability count against the company. Enterprise based its motion on the “Graves Amendment’s” preemption of Connecticut’s vicarious liability statute. The court cited Davis v. Illama and Dorsey v. Beverly, supra in its decision to strike the vicarious liability count against Enterprise.

The plaintiff filed an objection to the motion to strike the count on the grounds that the Graves Amendment violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiff cited the decision of the New York Supreme Court, Queens County in Graham v. Dunkley as authority for its claim. In response to the objection, the court quotes from a 1989 decision in Bottone v. Westport...”(I)n passing upon the constitutionality of a legislative act, we will make every presumption and intendment in favor of its validity…The party challenging a statute’s constitutionality has a heavy burden of proof; the unconstitutionality must be proven beyond all reasonable doubt.” The court goes on to state that “beyond offering the New York lower court decision as authority for the unconstitutionality of the Graves Amendment, the plaintiff has offered no additional case law or argument and accordingly, the plaintiff has not sustained its burden of proving that the statute is unconstitutional." Court Order - Granting Defendant Motion

Garcia v. Vanguard Car Rental USA, Inc. - U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division
POSITIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON APPEAL

On March 5, 2007, the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division ruled that Florida Statute 324.021(9)(b)(2), setting caps on vicarious liability of short-term lessors, is not a "financial responsibility law" protected by 49 USC 30106(b). the court explained that "the Florida Statute in question does not create insurance standards for entities that register and operate motor vehicles within Florida." The court went on to state that its "analysis drive the conclusion that vicarious liability of motor vehicle lessors under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine is now preempted by federal law. Consequently, Fla. Stat. 324.021(9)(b)(2) also is preempted."

The federal court also finds that "there can be no dispute that leased vehicles routinesly travel between states" and that "the Graves Amendment is constitutional under the first category of Congress’ Commerce Clause powers." The Court "also finds that the Graves Amendment is constitutional under the second category of Congress’ Commerce Clause powers because the statute regulates the leasing and operating of motor vehicles which are the quintessential instrumentalities of modern interstate commerce." The Court further finds that "the Graves Amendment...is constitutional under the third category - regulating instrastate activities that substantially affect interstate commerce." Court Order - Denying Plaintiff’s Vicarious Liability Claims Against Defendant

On August 19, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit affirmed the U.S. District Court decision.

Jones v. Bill, et al - Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department
POSITIVE DECISION

On November 28, 2006, the Second Judicial Department of the Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division upheld an earlier decision of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County to dismiss a complaint against the vehicle lessor DCFS Trust based on 49 USC 30106, commonly known as the "Graves Amendment." In its decision to uphold the trial court decision, the court explained that the "Graves Amendment abolished vicarious liability of long-term automobile lessors based solely on ownership." Furthermore, the court noted that the "Graves Amendment is applicable to any action commenced on or after the date of enactment" August 10, 2005. Though the initial suit against defendant and vehicle operator Jessica Bill was filed on August 8, 2005, DCFS Trust was not added as a defendant until an amended filing on November 1, 2005. The court rejected as "without merit" the plaintiffs assertion that is claim against DCFS is maintainable under the relation-back doctrine. The Second Judicial Department of the Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division is the same court where the appeal of the Graham v. Dunkley and NILT, Inc. decision declaring 49 USC 30106 as unconsitutional is currently pending. Court Decision and Order Upholding Dismissal of Vicarious Liability Claims Against Defendant

Poole v. Enterprise Leasing Company of Orlando – 18th District Circuit Court – Brevard County, Florida
NEGATIVE DECISION - POSITIVE RULING ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

On January 19, 2006, Judge T. Mitchell Barlow denied Enterprise’s motion to dismiss this case and ruled that Florida’s statute setting caps on the vicarious liability of short-term lessors (Florida Statute 324.021 (9)(b)(2)) is a financial responsibility law and falls under the provision of the federal law preserving a state’s right to impose financial responsibility laws required for registering and operating a motor vehicle (49 USC 30106(b)). During the hearing, there was some discussion of the constitutionality of the federal law with regard to its effective date and the plaintiff’s right to due process of law. The judge did not rule on this question and asked counsel on both sides to refrain from extensive debate on this issue as he felt he could make a ruling based only on the question of financial responsibility laws. This suit was filed on August 10, 2005, the day federal vicarious liability preemption was enacted. The plaintiff’s case was argued by Andre Mura, Senior Litigation Counsel for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Center for Constitutional Litigation. Transcript of Proceedings - Denying Motion to Dismiss - Poole v. Enterprise

On February 4, 2008, Judge John D. Moxley granted Enterprise’s motion for summary judgment, which contended that  the recently enacted  Graves Amendment preempted Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine, which put caps on vicarious liability.  Judge Moxley agreed and stated that Enterprise’s motion was supported by the recent decision in the Kumarsingh v. Avis case, which ruled that the Graves law preempts Florida’s vicariously liability laws.

 

Davis v. Ilama et al (We Rent Minivans) – Superior Court – Waterbury, Connecticut
POSITIVE DECISION

On March 14, 2006, the Superior Court of Connecticut granted We Rent Minivans’ motion to strike two counts against it that were based on liability solely due to ownership of the vehicle. In one count, the plaintiff claimed We Rent Minivans was liable by virtue of giving the defendant permission to operate one of its vehicles, with no allegation of negligence against We Rent Minivans. The second count claimed liability pursuant to Connecticut’s vicarious liability statute. The court bases its decision to grant the defendant’s motions to strike the two counts on the federal preemption statute (49 U.S.C. Section 30106) and on the decisions in Infante v. U-Haul of Florida and Piche v. Nugent et al (Enterprise Rent-A-Car). Court Opinion - Granting Motion to Dismiss - Davis v Ilama and We Rent Minivans

Infante v. U-Haul of Florida – Supreme Court – Queens County, New York
POSITIVE DECISION

On January 18, 2006, Judge Augustus Agate granted U-Haul’s motion to dismiss this case ruling U-Haul of Florida was not the titled owner of the vehicle involved in the claim. However, the judge went further in his decision to clarify that regardless of the issue of the defendant not owning the vehicle, the plaintiff’s claim was invalid based upon the enactment of the “Graves Amendment” prohibiting vicarious liability against owners of rented and leased vehicles and its preemption of state laws, including New York’s, that previously permitted it. According to U-Haul, this case is not expected to be appealed. Infante Opinion

Piche v. Nugent et al (Enterprise Rent-A-Car) – U.S. District Court – District of Maine
POSITIVE DECISION

On September 30, 2005, Judge Margaret J. Kravchuk affirmed the effectiveness of federal law (49 U.S.C. Section 30106) preempting state vicarious liability statutes, even though this case was filed prior to enactment of the federal law and was not affected by it. The judge denied Enterprise’s motion for summary judgment centering on whether the law of Maine, which includes statutory vicarious liability, or the law of New Hampshire which does not, would be applicable to this case. In her decision, the judge stated that the question at hand “is not a question likely to repeat itself in the future. On August 10, 2005 President Bush signed into law…SAFETEA-LU”. She further explains that the “law amends U.S. Code Title 49, Chapter 301 to preempt state statutes that impose vicarious liability on rental car companies for the negligence of their renters…Thus, the long term policy debate has been resolved by the federal government.” Memorandum of Decision