{ "id": 5459720, "name": "James C. BRANSCUMB v. Clinton FREEMAN", "name_abbreviation": "Branscumb v. Freeman", "decision_date": "2004-12-16", "docket_number": "04-147", "first_page": "171", "last_page": "180", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "360 Ark. 171" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "200 S.W.3d 411" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "978 S.W.2d 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 11665501 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/978/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-509", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "357 Ark. 644", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 5405052 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/357/0644-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 3-3-218", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(a)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "238 Ark. 889", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1734179 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/238/0889-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 3-3-202", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "329 Ark. 143", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 236168 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/329/0143-01" ] }, { "cite": "337 Ark. 24", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1240941 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/337/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "330 Ark. 687", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 298587 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/330/0687-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-105", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "weight": 3, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "Emphasis added" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-102", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "228 Ark. 157", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8718239 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1957, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/228/0157-01" ] }, { "cite": "250 Ark. 77", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1636837 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "78" }, { "page": "649" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/250/0077-01" ] }, { "cite": "327 Ark. 208", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 922697 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citing State Farm Mutual Ins. Co. v. Cartmel, 250 Ark. 77, 78, 463 S.W.2d 648, 649 (1971)" }, { "parenthetical": "citing State Farm Mutual Ins. Co. v. Cartmel, 250 Ark. 77, 78, 463 S.W.2d 648, 649 (1971)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/327/0208-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-702", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-621", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-503", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "year": 2004, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7\u00a7 27-19-501", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "21 S.W.2d 954", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "year": 1929, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "180 Ark. 442", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1393619 ], "year": 1929, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/180/0442-01" ] }, { "cite": "268 Ark. 334", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1715492 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/268/0334-01" ] }, { "cite": "238 Ark. 918", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1734311 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/238/0918-01" ] }, { "cite": "302 Ark. 261", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1884318 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/302/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "343 Ark. 351", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 226540 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/343/0351-01" ] }, { "cite": "347 Ark. 977", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 683275 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/347/0977-01" ] }, { "cite": "330 Ark. 435", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 298575 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/330/0435-01" ] }, { "cite": "338 Ark. 791", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 243508 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/338/0791-01" ] }, { "cite": "344 Ark. 177", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 210189 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/344/0177-01" ] }, { "cite": "346 Ark. 171", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1111339 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/346/0171-01" ] }, { "cite": "316 Ark. 588", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1907818 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1994, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/316/0588-01" ] }, { "cite": "339 Ark. 176", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 130709 ], "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/339/0176-01" ] }, { "cite": "348 Ark. 557", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 74064 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/348/0557-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7\u00a7 27-22-104", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "weight": 5, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "Emphasis added" }, { "page": "(a)(2)" }, { "page": "(a)(l)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-101", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-101", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 832, "char_count": 16826, "ocr_confidence": 0.737, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.188346147868818e-07, "percentile": 0.8649830549966426 }, "sha256": "5cf2c12fae49c78a27386d712b5fbc3021e5a7fff5e4da4ca276f3f67c6d0e18", "simhash": "1:bfca8f8850ee1637", "word_count": 2757 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:58:07.617704+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "James C. BRANSCUMB v. Clinton FREEMAN" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Annabelle Clinton Imber, Justice.\nThe issue on appeal is .whether a cause of action for negligence arises against the owner of an uninsured motor vehicle based solely upon a violation of the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-101, et seq. (2004), and the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-101, et seq. (2004). Because this is a matter of first impression, we have jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 1\u20142(b)(1) of the Arkansas Rules of the Supreme Court.\nAppellee Clinton Freeman allowed Jonathan D. Bell to test drive his uninsured 1992 Honda motorcycle on October 30, 1999. While operating the motorcycle, Bell entered an intersection but failed to stop at a stop sign, whereupon the motorcycle collided with a vehicle driven by Appellant James C. Branscumb. Branscumb filed a complaint in circuit court against both Bell and Freeman in which he alleged that Freeman was negligent in allowing Bell to operate his vehicle without insurance as required by Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7\u00a7 27-22-104 & 27-19-711 (2004). He also alleged in the complaint that the accident was proximately caused by Bell\u2019s negligence in failing to stop at the stop sign. The circuit court determined that Freeman was sued by Branscumb solely on the basis that Freeman owned an uninsured motorcycle that a third party was driving when, as a result of the driver\u2019s alleged negligence, the motorcycle collided with the vehicle operated by Branscumb. Based on the pleadings, the court ruled that Branscumb failed to state a claim under Arkansas law against Freeman and, therefore, dismissed the complaint against Freeman.\nBranscumb initially appealed the dismissal of his claim against Freeman to the Arkansas Court of Appeals. On September 17, 2003, the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal for lack of a final order in that the judgment did not dispose of Branscumb\u2019s additional claim against the separate defendant Bell. Branscumb v. Freeman, CA02-1030, slip op. at 1-2 (Ark. App. Sept. 17, 2003). The circuit court subsequently disposed of the case by entering summary judgment in favor of Branscumb on his claim against Bell, finding that Bell\u2019s negligence in failing to stop proximately caused the accident. Following entry of a final order on December 3, 2003, Branscumb timely filed a second notice of appeal, contending that the trial court erred in dismissing his claim against Freeman.\nWe have repeatedly set forth our standard of review for orders of dismissal pursuant to Ark. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Clayborn v. Bankers Standard Ins. Co., 348 Ark. 557, 75 S.W.3d 174 (2002). This court reviews a trial court\u2019s decision on a motion to dismiss by treating the facts alleged in the complaint as true and by viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. King v. Whitfield, 339 Ark. 176, 5 S.W.3d (1999); Neal v. Wilson, 316 Ark. 588, 873 S.W.2d 552 (1994). In viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, the facts should be liberally construed in plaintiffs favor. Rothbaum v. Arkansas Local Police & Fire Retirement Sys., 346 Ark. 171, 55 S.W.3d 760 (2001); Martin v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc. of the U.S., 344 Ark. 177, 40 S.W.3d 733 (2001). Our rules require fact pleading, and a complaint must state facts, not mere conclusions, in order to entitle the pleader to relief. Ark. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(1); Grine v. Board of Trustees, 338 Ark. 791, 2 S.W.3d 54 (1999); Brown v. Tucker, 330 Ark. 435, 954 S.W.2d 262 (1997).\nThis appeal also requires us to determine the intent and application of the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act and the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act. We review statutory interpretation appeals de novo, as it is for us to decide the meaning of the statute. Premium Aircraft Parts, LLC v. Circuit Court of Carroll County, 347 Ark. 977, 69 S.W.3d 849 (2002).\nThe underlying lawsuit is a subrogation claim. In St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. v. Murray Guard, Inc., 343 Ark. 351, 37 S.W.3d 180 (2001), we said subrogation is an equitable remedy that rests upon principles of unjust enrichment and attempts to accomplish complete and perfect justice among the parties. Id. (citing Blackford v. Dickey, 302 Ark. 261, 789 S.W.2d 445 (1990); and Baker v. Leigh, 238 Ark. 918, 385 S.W.2d 790 (1965)). We have further said that the elements of subrogation are as follows: 1) a party pays in full a debt or an obligation of another or removes an encumbrance of another, 2) for which the other is primarily liable, 3) although the party is not technically bound to do so, 4) in order to protect his own secondary rights, to fulfill a contractual obligation, or to comply with the request of the original debtor, 5) without acting as a volunteer or an intermeddler. Id. (citing Blackford v. Dickey, supra). Finally, we have said that subrogation is a doctrine of equity governed by equitable principles. Id. (citing Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. v. Northwestern National Cas. Co., 268 Ark. 334, 595 S.W.2d 938 (1980); and Federal Land Bank of St. Louis v. Richland Farming Co., 180 Ark. 442, 21 S.W.2d 954 (1929)).\nIn the instant case, Branscumb\u2019s insurance carrier, Guideone Insurance Company, paid his damages under the uninsured motorist clause of his policy. Under a theory of subrogation, Branscumb sought to recover damages in the amount of $9,163.83 by suing the person(s) who allegedly were responsible for his injuries \u2014 Bell, for negligently operating the motorcycle and Freeman for failing to insure the motorcycle. Branscumb submits that the owner\u2019s failure to keep insurance on his motorcycle should be evidence of negligence under the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-101, et seq. (2004), and the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-101, etseq. (2004), and therefore his claim was improperly dismissed by the circuit court. We disagree.\nUnder the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act, the driver of a vehicle bears the responsibility of reporting an accident, and the penalty for failing to report an accident is license suspension. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7\u00a7 27-19-501, 508 (Repl. 2004). Similarly, it is the driver\u2019s failure to file proof of insurance within 90 days of the accident that results in a presumption that the driver and the vehicle the driver is operating are uninsured. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-503 (Repl. 2004). In any event, the legislature has expressly provided that following an accident, the report and the security (if the vehicle is uninsured) required under the Act and any action taken by the enforcement agency, shall not be evidence of negligence in civil actions. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-621 (Repl. 2004).\nFurthermore, subchapter seven of the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act does not provide for universal application; instead, it requires proof of financial responsibility for the future (i.e., mandatory liability insurance) and applies only to those persons \u201cwho have been convicted of or forfeited bail for certain offenses under motor vehicle laws or who have failed to pay judgments upon causes of action arising out of ownership, maintenance, or use of vehicles of a type subject to registration under the laws of this State.\u201d Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-702 (Repl. 2004). See Smith v. Shelter Mutual Ins. Co., 327 Ark. 208, 937 S.W.2d 180 (1997)(citing State Farm Mutual Ins. Co. v. Cartmel, 250 Ark. 77, 78, 463 S.W.2d 648, 649 (1971)); Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Simpson, 228 Ark. 157, 306 S.W.2d 117 (1957).\nThe Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-101, et seq. (Repl. 2004), is supplemental to and cumulative to the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-102. Section 27-22-104 provides:\n(a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle within this state unless the vehicle is covered by a certificate of self-insurance under the provisions of \u00a7 27-19-107, or by an insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state.\n(2) Failure to present proof of insurance coverage at the time of arrest and a failure of the vehicle insurance database to show current insurance coverage at the time of the traffic stop creates a rebuttable presumption that the motor vehicle is uninsured.\nArk. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-104 (Emphasis added). In addition, Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-105 states:\n(a) When the operator of any motor vehicle is involved in a motor vehicle accident in this state and the vehicle is found not to be adequately insured, as required by \u00a7 27-22-104(a)(l), the operator shall be deemed guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.\n(b) In addition, if a person is convicted of driving an inadequately insured vehicle which has been involved in an accident under subsection (a) of this section, the court may order that the vehicle be impounded until proof of vehicle insurance coverage is made to the court. The owner of the vehicle impounded shall be responsible for all costs of impoundment.\nArk. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-105 (Emphasis added). The legislative history behind these pertinent statutes is reflected in the Publisher\u2019s Notes to Act 988 of 1991, Section 1:\nMOTOR VEHICLES \u2014 LICENSING, REGISTRATION, AND INSURANCE \u2014 PENALTIES\n\u201cAN ACT TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HIGHWAY SAFETY BY GENERATING ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES BY INCREASING THE FINE FOR FAILURE TO LICENSE MOTOR VEHICLES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE FINE FOR FAILING TO LICENSE MOTOR VEHICLES; TO AMEND ARKANSAS CODE SECTIONS 27-22-103 AND 27-22-104(a) TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR SECOND AND THIRD OFFENSES OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE REQUIREMENT; TO AMEND ARKANSAS CODE TITLE 27, CHAPTER 14, SUBCHAPTER 3 TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO REGISTER A MOTOR VEHICLE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.\u201d\nBE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:\nSECTION 1. (a) It is hereby found and determined by the General Assembly that there is a large number of motor vehicles within this state which are not licensed; that this situation results in lost revenues to the state in the form of license fees not paid; that the owners of unlicensed motor vehicles most likely do not pay property taxes on such vehicles, thereby depriving local governments and school districts of vitally needed revenues; that it is probable that the owners of unlicensed new motor vehicles have not paid the sales tax on such new vehicles thereby depriving the state of a significant amount of tax revenues; that it is also probable that these owners have not complied with mandatory insurance requirements, thereby increasing the potential financial catastrophe to others involved in accidents with them; and that this act is designed to promote the enforcement of Arkansas\u2019 motor vehicle licensing laws.\n(b) It is further found and determined by the General Assembly that penalties for failure to obtain motor vehicle insurance are prescribed by Arkansas law; that enhancing penalties for second and third offenses of the liability insurance requirement will increase compliance with the requirement; therefore it is also the purpose of this act to enhance the penalties for repeat offenses of the liability insurance requirement.\nBased on the plain language and the legislative history of these provisions, we decline to impose civil liability on a motor vehicle owner solely for failing to insure his or her motor vehicle. Under the above-quoted provisions, it is the operator of the motor vehicle, and not the owner, who is the focus of the statutory prohibition. Section 27-22-104(a)(l) makes it unlawful for any person to operate an uninsured motor vehicle. Similarly, a rebut-table presumption that a motor vehicle is uninsured only arises if there is no proof of insurance at the time of a traffic stop. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-104(a)(2). Section 27-22-103 authorizes fines against operators of uninsured motor vehicles. The legislature clearly intended to distinguish operators from owners of motor vehicles by imposing criminal liability solely on the operator of an uninsured motor vehicle that is involved in an accident, while the owner\u2019s responsibility is limited to paying the costs of impoundment. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-105. In distinguishing the operator from the owner, the legislature has recognized that an owner is not always the operator of the motor vehicle. Additionally, the legislative history indicates that the legislature\u2019s primary purpose in amending the automobile licensing and insurance laws was not to impose civil liability on motor vehicle owners, but to protect against the loss of a significant amount of tax revenues. 1991 Ark. Law Acts 988, \u00a7 1 (1991) (codified at Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-22-104 (2004)).\nMoreover, Branscumb\u2019s proposed theory would implicitly create a negligence per se cause of action. Under Arkansas law, in order to prevail on a claim of negligence, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff, that the defendant breached the duty, and that the breach was the proximate cause of the plaintiffs injuries. See Wilson v. Rebsamen Ins., Inc., 330 Ark. 687, 957 S.W.2d 678 (1997). In this case, a third party was operating Freeman\u2019s motorcycle when the accident occurred. Because Freeman\u2019s failure to insure the vehicle could never be the proximate cause of the accident and resulting injuries, Branscumb would only be able to prevail under a negligence per se theory of liability. As explained earlier, the relevant statutory provisions reflect no such intent by the legislature.\nBranscumb further contends that this court has previously imposed civil liability where a statute is silent on the issue of civil liability. Jackson v. Cadillac Cowboy, Inc., 337 Ark. 24, 986 S.W.2d 410 (1999); Shannon v. Wilson, 329 Ark. 143, 947 S.W.2d 349 (1997). His reliance on those cases, however, is misplaced. In Shannon, we said that the violation of Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 3-3-202 (Repl. 1996), which prohibits the sale of alcohol to minors, by licensed alcohol vendors is evidence of negligence to be submitted to the jury. In so holding, we modified our judicially-created common law rule, as set forth in Carr v. Turner, 238 Ark. 889, 385 S.W.2d 656 (1965), under which providers of alcohol may not be held liable for damages arising out of the negligent operation of motor vehicles. The decision to modify our common law rule, however, was based in large measure upon the legislature\u2019s enactment of section 3-3-202. In that statute, the legislature explicitly expressed an intent to protect minors as a special class of citizens and it placed an affirmative duty on licensed vendors to safeguard against selling alcohol to minors. Similarly, in Jackson v. Cadillac Cowboy, Inc., the court extended the holding in Shannon by recognizing a cause of action for negligence against licensed vendors who sell liquor to intoxicated persons. We concluded that the high duty of care imposed by the legislature on licensed alcohol vendors, as expressed in Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 3-3-218(a) & (b) (Repl. 1996), was sufficient for us to extend the Shannon holding. Jackson v. Cadillac Cowboy, Inc., supra.\nWith regard to the instant case, Shannon and Cadillac Cowboy are clearly inapposite. In those cases, we relied upon the high duty of care that has been statutorily imposed on licensed alcohol vendors. In contrast, the legislature has taken no action to indicate its intent to specifically hold the owner of an uninsured motor vehicle responsible for a third party\u2019s operation of that vehicle based solely upon the uninsured status of the vehicle. The relevant statutes place the duty on the operator; that is, it is \u201cunlawful for any person to operate\u201d an uninsured motor vehicle, and it is the operator who may be criminally liable for \u201cdriving an inadequately insured vehicle which has been involved in an accident.\u201d Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7\u00a7 27-22-104(a)(l) & 27-22-105. Accordingly, we decline to recognize a private cause of action for negligence against the owner of an uninsured motor vehicle based solely upon a violation of the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act and the Arkansas Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act.\nAffirmed.\nWe issued a Per Curiam opinion ordering Branscumb to rebrief, as the addendum was deficient. Branscumb v. Freeman, 357 Ark. 644, 187 S.W.3d 846 (2004).\nThe owner has the responsibility of making the report only if the driver is physically incapable of making the report. Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 27-19-509 (Repl. 2004).\nThe Missouri Court of Appeals made a similar holding in Wise v. Crump, 978 S.W.2d 1 (Mo. Ct.App. 1998).", "type": "majority", "author": "Annabelle Clinton Imber, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Becky A. McHughes and Josh E. McHughes, for appellant.", "Bennie O\u2019Neil, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "James C. BRANSCUMB v. Clinton FREEMAN\n04-147\n200 S.W.3d 411\nSupreme Court of Arkansas\nOpinion delivered December 16, 2004\nBecky A. McHughes and Josh E. McHughes, for appellant.\nBennie O\u2019Neil, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0171-01", "first_page_order": 193, "last_page_order": 202 }