Pfau v. Trent Aluminum Company

263 A.2d 129 (1970)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

P, a domiciliary of Connecticut, was a student at Parsons College in Iowa. D, a domiciliary of New Jersey, was a student at the same college. The automobile was registered in New Jersey in the name of the Trent Aluminum Company, a New Jersey corporation owned by D's father. D was using the car with the owner corporation's consent. The vehicle was insured in New Jersey by a New Jersey carrier. D agreed to drive P to Columbia, Missouri, for a weekend visit. D failed to negotiate a curve and the car he was operating collided with an oncoming vehicle driven by Joseph Davis. Mr. Davis and his wife and child, who were Iowa domiciliaries, were injured in the accident. The Davis claims were settled. D pleaded the Iowa guest statute as a defense. The judge struck this defense, holding that the New Jersey law requiring a host to use at least ordinary care for the safety of his guest was applicable. On appeal, the court ruled that the Iowa guest statute applied to the case and accordingly reversed and reinstated the defense. P appealed. D argues that if Connecticut law should apply, the court must also apply Connecticut’s conflict-of-law rules, which under lex loci delicti is the governing law for torts.