Opinion

Cowgill, Adm'r v. Boock, Adm'r

  • 189 Or. 282
  • 218 P.2d 445
  • 19 A.L.R. 2d 405
  • 1950 Ore. LEXIS 182
Court
Oregon Supreme Court
Filed
May 16, 1950
Status
Published
Author
Latotjrette
On the bench
Belt, Rossman, Latotjrette, Lusk, Belt'S, Bailey, Brand
Cited by
97 cases

concurring opinion by ROSSMAN, J.

How later courts described this case

  • concurring opinion by ROSSMAN, J.
  • minor child may sue parent for willful or malicious tort
  • minor child may sue parent for wilful or malicious tort

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

LATOTJRETTE, J.,

specially concurring.

I concur in the opinion of Mr. Justice Belt because I believe that the reason for the rule of public policy in actions of this nature ceases to exist in so far as the facts in this case are concerned. The public policy doctrine is a wholesome one, in most eases involving torts between a father and his unemancipated son, but in the case at bar, it seems to me that when the drunken father commanded his son to ride with him on the fateful night and refused the son’s request to let him drive the automobile and went careening down the road in the manner indicated, being engaged in an unlawful act and bringing about the son’s untimely death, the harmony and tranquillity of the family unit then and there became emasculated. Cessante ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex.

*309 The courts universally hold that an unemancipated son has a right of action against his father for misappropriation of the son’s property entrusted to the father. To reverse the judgment in this action, in the light of the facts, would be placing “property rights” over human rights. To this doctrine, I can not subscribe.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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