Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

52 Misc. 2d 412

Gelbman v. Gelbman

New York Supreme Court

Decided December 9, 1966

New York Supreme Court · decided 1966-12-09

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1967

2 state decisions

Relies on Gochee v. Wagner · Cannon v. Cannon · People v. Russo

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1966-12-09

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

John J. Dillon, J.

¶1The plaintiff commenced this negligence action against her nnemancipated son to recover damages for injuries allegedly sustained by her in an automobile accident. It appears that the defendant son was operating plaintiff’s car at the time of the accident and that he has placed the blame for the accident on the operator of another vehicle which was involved in the accident. Since the plaintiff was a passenger in her own car at the time of the accident, she may not recover damages against the owner or operator of the other vehicle if the operator of her own car was himself negligent (Gochee v. Wagner, 257 N. Y. 344).

¶2It is well established that an unemancipated child will not be permitted to maintain an action against a parent for nonwillful personal injuries sustained by him (Sorrentino v. Sorrentino, 248 N. Y. 626; Badigian v. Badigian, 9 N Y 2d 472). The underlying theory upon which this principle is founded is to maintain family unity, mutual respect and discipline (Cannon v. Cannon, 287 N. Y. 425). On the same theory, it would logically follow that a parent should not be permitted to maintain an action against an nnemancipated child (Boehm v. Gridley & Sons, 187 Misc. 113; Terwilliger v. Terwilliger, 201 Misc. 453; 3 Warren’s Negligence, § 9.01).

¶3Accordingly, the plaintiff’s motion is denied and the court on its own motion dismisses the complaint.

/52/misc2d/412 · .json · Public domain