MOTOR VEHICLE TORTS: Family car doctrine applies to nonfamily member operating vehicle with permission of family member

The owner of a family car is responsible for damages caused by him nonfamily member operating the vehicle when the vehicle is being used by a permissive user of a family member, and the family member is a passenger in the vehicle. The family member in the vehicle must have the general, unrestricted authority to use the vehicle for his or her own pleasure inconvenience.

“The liability of a vehicle owner under the family car doctrine encompasses liability for the negligent operation of a family car by a nonfamily member third party operator if a covered family member with general, unrestricted authority to use the vehicle for his or her own pleasure and convenience was a passenger in the vehicle and the third party was operating the family car with the consent of that family member. In such cases, the negligent third party steps into the shoes of the family member for the purpose of applying the family car doctrine to the owner of the vehicle.” Cima v. Sciaretta, 140 Conn. App. 167, 177 (2013).

For full text of the decision see this link