Varmint Hunt Turns Dangerous

Not a legal profession case, but of interest to torts profs is a decision issued yesterday by the South Dakota Supreme Court. A rifle had been left in an automobile after a day of hunting for “varmints such as coyote or fox.” On the next day, while the car’s ignition was turned on, the rifle accidentally discharged and wounded one of the hunters. The issue is whether the accident was covered by the insurance policy on the car. A majority answered that question in the affirmative, with a dissent suggesting that this does not fit into any sensible definition of a car accident. (Mike Frisch)