Bowerman v. Sheehan

The question presented in Hawkins v. Ermatinger, 211 Mich. 578, is again before us. In that case the judgment of the trial court, based on a holding that, under section 4825, 1 Comp. Laws 1915, recovery might be had against the owner of a motor vehicle, when negligently driven by an immediate member of his family, was affirmed by an equal division of this court. The law is again attacked as unconstitutional.

When such a claim is made, what is the test to be applied by a court? This question received thoughtful consideration in the early case of Sears v. Cottrell, 5 Mich. 251. That decision has been cited and quoted from more frequently than any other in our official Reports, and always with approval. It may be read in its entirety with much profit. The quotations herein are taken from it except as otherwise indicated.

We have no right to consider whether, had we been members of the legislature, we would have favored its enactment, nor "seek for some hidden or abstruse meaning in one or more clauses of the Constitution, to annul a law." If we do so, we will "encroach on the power of the legislature, andmake the Constitution instead of construing it," and thereby "declare what the Constitution should be — not what it is. The tendency of courts at the present day, we think, is too much in that direction." Neither should we consider whether this law is in harmony with the rules of the common law.

"There is no such limit to legislative power. The legislature may alter or repeal the common law. It may create new offenses, enlarge the scope of civil remedies, and fasten responsibility for injuries upon persons against whom the common law gives no remedy." Bertholf v. O'Reilly, 74 N.Y. 509 (30 Am. Rep. 323), quoted approvingly in Rhodes v. Sperry Hutchinson Co.,193 N.Y. 223 (85 N.E. 1097, 34 L.R.A. [N. S.] 1143, 127 Am. St. Rep. 945).

"A person has no property, no vested interest, in any rule of the common law. That is only one of the forms of municipal law, and is no more sacred than any other. Rights of property which have been created by the common law can not be taken away without due process; but the law itself, as a rule of conduct, may be changed at the will * * * of the legislature, unless prevented by constitutional limitations. Indeed, the great office of statutes is to remedy defects in the common law as they are developed, and to adapt it to the changes of time and circumstances." Munn v. Illinois, 94 U.S. 113, 134, quoted approvingly in Second Employers' Liability Cases, 223 U.S. 1,50 (32 Sup. Ct. 169, 38 L.R.A. [N. S.] 44).

The distinction between the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and our State Constitution must not be lost sight of. Under the former, "a power not conferred by the express terms of the instrument, or by necessary implication, cannot be exercised." The purpose and object of a State Constitution are not to make specific grants of legislative power, but tolimit that power where it would otherwise be general orunlimited." "In the one case, therefore, the inquiry is: Has the power in question been granted? in the other: Has it been prohibited?" If "not prohibited by the express words of the Constitution, or by necessary implication," it "cannot be declared void as a violation of that instrument." The true test, then, seems to be, that, to declare a statute unconstitutional, "we should be able to lay our finger on the part of the Constitution violated, and that the infraction should be clear, and free from a reasonable doubt." Tyler v.People, 8 Mich. 320, 333. See, also, Moore v. Harrison,224 Mich. 512, 515.

In Blodgett v. Holden, U.S. Adv. Ops. 1927, 28, p. 67 (48 Sup. Ct. 105), Mr. Justice Holmes said:

"Although research has shown and practice has established the futility of the charge that it was a usurpation when this court undertook to declare an act of congress unconstitutional, I suppose that we all agree that to do so is the gravest and most delicate duty that this court is called on to perform. Upon this, among other considerations, the rule is settled that as between two possible interpretations of a statute, by one of which it would be unconstitutional and by the other valid, our plain duty is to adopt that which will save the act. Even to avoid a serious doubt the rule is the same."

No attempt is made by counsel for the appellant to point out wherein the Constitution prohibits the enactment of such a law. It cannot be said to impair the obligation of contracts, nor can it be said to deprive the owner of liberty or property without due process of law. It interferes with the use of property by a restriction imposed thereon for the protection and safety of the public.

"It is not disputed that the State may regulate the use of private property, when the health, morals, or welfare of the public demands it. Such laws have their origin in necessity." People v. Smith, 108 Mich. 527 (32 L.R.A. 853, 62 Am. St. Rep. 715).

"It is a settled principle, growing out of the nature of well-ordered civil society, that every holder of property, however absolute and unqualified may be his title, holds it under the implied liability that his use of it may be so regulated that it shall not be injurious to the equal enjoyment of others having an equal right to the enjoyment of their property, nor injurious to the rights of the community."Commonwealth v. Alger, 7 Cush. (Mass.) 53, as quoted in211 Mich. 586.

It is urged, however, that the provisions of the act are arbitrary and oppressive. This law was enacted in the exercise of the police power.

"It is elementary that all property is held subject to the general police power to regulate and control its use so as to secure the general safety." Peninsular Stove Co. v. Burton,220 Mich. 284, 286.

Such power is vested in the legislature. It has frequently been said that this power is "incapable of any exact definition or limitation, because none can foresee the ever-changing conditions which may call for its exercise." 6 R. C. L. p. 184. It has been said that laws touching the regulation of morals, manners, or property are all enacted as experiments to fit conditions of time and place. The automobile is with us. There are few homes in which one may not be found. Stress is laid upon our holding that "an automobile is not a dangerous instrumentality." Brinkman v. Zuckerman, 192 Mich. 624. But inStapleton v. Brewing Co., 198 Mich. 170, 175 (L.R.A. 1918A, 916), it was said that it may not be so classed "when intelligently managed." One has but to peruse the columns of the daily press, or travel upon our streets or highways, or even to read our recent opinions, to note that the safety of pedestrians or persons riding in vehicles is at all times endangered by reckless driving, and in such collisions the one exercising due care usually receives the greater injury. It is true that a standing automobile is not a dangerous instrumentality, but the moment it begins to move, unless in the hands of a careful person, it certainly becomes such. How may such carelessness be controlled? We have criminal laws seeking to do so. Drivers are required to be licensed. That these laws do not prevent serious accidents, often resulting in death, is apparent. The punishment, criminally, of the one who has violated the law in no way recompenses the other for the injury sustained. There has been agitation looking to a law requiring all owners to carry liability insurance. The owner of a car who does not is today carrying such insurance himself when lie is driving it or it is being driven by some person employed by him. But, when driven by his 14-year-old son or daughter, the person injured has no protection whatever except under this statute. Is it "arbitrary or oppressive" to require a father, who permits his minor child to drive his car, to compensate a neighbor for damages due to his or her recklessness in doing so? Is it not more so to hold a law invalid which so provides? It seems safe to say that most owners who are financially responsible carry insurance which protects them against liability under this act. That the policy is so written imposes no liability on the insurance company if the act is invalid. The insurer may make any defense that the insured could make.

Daugherty v. Thomas, 174 Mich. 371 (45 L.R.A. [N. S.] 699, Ann. Cas. 1915A, 1163), is again relied on as decisive of this case. If the statute there considered was similar to that before us, this contention would have force. The gist of that decision is thus stated by Mr. Justice STONE:

"To hold subdivision 3 of section 10 constitutional is to hold a party absolutely liable for the negligent conduct of another, a mere stranger or a wilful trespasser, no matter how careful or free from negligence he himself has been."

Is there any provision in the statute we are here considering under which an owner may be held liable for the negligent conduct of "a mere stranger or a wilful trespasser"? Can the immediate members of a person's family be so designated?

The Daugherty Case was decided in 1913. This statute was enacted in 1915. It is apparent that the purpose of the legislature was to so change the liability of an owner as to relieve it of the objectionable features in the former law.

The section of the motor vehicle law here involved was amended by Act No. 56, Pub. Acts 1927, § 29. It now provides:

"The owner shall not be liable, however, unless said motor vehicle is being driven with his or her express or implied consent or knowledge. It shall be presumed that such motor vehicle is being driven with the knowledge and consent of the owner if it is driven at the time of said injury by his or her father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, or other immediate member of the family."

Under it the owner is liable only if the vehicle be driven "with his or her express or implied consent or knowledge," but such consent and knowledge will be presumed if it be driven by an immediate member of the family.

It is difficult to perceive how this amendment affords any real protection to the owner. Under Act No. 33, Pub. Acts 1909 (3 Comp. Laws 1915, § 15431), "Every person who takes or uses without authority" a motor vehicle is subject to a fine or imprisonment. Should a member of the owner's family use the car and the defense be made, under the amendment above quoted, that it was without the owner's consent or knowledge, the proof offered to maintain such defense, if sufficient to do so, would render the person using the car guilty under Act No. 33. The owner, when such a claim is made, will therefore be placed in a position where he must admit liability, if negligence be proven, or by his proof establish facts sufficient to sustain the criminal prosecution.

In passing upon the extent to which the police power may be exercised by the legislature of a State, the Supreme Court of the United States, in Van Oster v. Kansas, 272 U.S. 465, 467 (47 Sup. Ct. 133, 47 A.L.R. 1044), said:

"It is not unknown or indeed uncommon for the law to visit upon the owner of property the unpleasant consequences of the unauthorized action of one to whom he has entrusted it. Much of the jurisdiction in admiralty, so much of the statute and common law of liens as enables a mere bailee to subject the bailed property to a lien, the power of a vendor of chattels in possession to sell and convey good title to a stranger, are familiar examples. They have their counterpart in legislation imposing liability on owners of vehicles for the negligent operation by those entrusted with their use, regardless of a master-servant relation. Laws of New York, 1924, c. 534; Michigan Pub. Acts 1915, Act No. 302, § 29 (constitutionality upheld, Stapleton v. Independent Brewing Co., 198 Mich. 170 [L. R. A. 1918A, 916]). They suggest that certain uses of property may be regarded as so undesirable that the owner surrenders his control at his peril. The law thus builds a secondary defense against a forbidden use and precludes evasions by dispensing with the necessity of judicial inquiry as to collusion between the wrongdoer and the alleged innocent owner. So here the legislature, to effect a purpose clearly within its power, has adopted a device consonant with recognized principles and therefore within the limits of due process."

In my opinion, this law should be sustained as a valid exercise of the police power upon the broad principle that he who owns property, in its nature a dangerous instrumentality when recklessly operated, will not be permitted to suffer it to be handled by a member of his immediate family, over whom he has full control, in such a negligent manner as to inflict injury upon another without responding in damages therefor.

"The physical welfare of the citizen is a subject of such primary importance to the State, and has such a direct relation to the general good, as to make laws tending to promote that object proper under the police power." People v. Havnor,149 N.Y. 195 (43 N.E. 541, 52 Am. St. Rep. 707, syllabus in 31 L.R.A. 689).

As was said in People v. Schneider, 139 Mich. 673, 679 (69 L.R.A. 345, 5 Ann. Cas. 790), the act "is merely a justifiable exercise of the police power in the interest of the safety of the traveling public."

The judgment is affirmed.

FEAD, C.J., and CLARK, McDONALD, and POTTER, JJ., concurred with SHARPE, J.