Substantial Compliance with Statute Transfers Title to Vehicle
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SERIOUS INJURY ALWAYS BRINGS LITIGATION
Posted on August 25, 2022 by Barry Zalma
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When an accident results in serious injuries the lawyers for the injured parties seek other defendants, no matter how weak the argument may be to bring in additional defendants.
In Delores Zepeda v. Central Motors, Inc., No. 2021-SC-0204-DG, Supreme Court of Kentucky (August 18, 2022) the Kentucky Supreme Court was faced with an argument that a car dealer who sold a vehicle to another and was a few days short on filing all of the transfer of title paperwork, should be held to be the owner of the vehicle and, therefore, responsible for the injuries.
This appeal was solely concerned with determining the statutory ownership of the BMW between Garcia and Central Motors which controlled whether Zepeda could dip into Central Motors’ insurance.
FACTS
Dolores Zepeda (Zepeda) was grievously wounded in an automobile accident. She filed a claim against Central Motors, Inc. (Central Motors) alleging it was the statutory owner of the 2002 BMW in which she was a passenger at the time of the accident. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Central Motors, holding it had substantially complied with KRS 186A.220 when it sold the vehicle to Juan Garcia (Garcia) and was no longer the statutory owner of the vehicle. Zepeda appealed and the Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court’s ruling.
Central Motors purchased the vehicle from Loan Portfolio Services in Tennessee on March 19, 2014 and brought the vehicle into Kentucky the same day. Central Motors did not file a notice of vehicle acquisition with the Fayette County Clerk within fifteen (15) days per KRS 186A.220(1). Garcia purchased the vehicle from Central Motors on July 24, 2014 and executed a bill of sale, retail installment contract and security agreement for the purchase. As part of the transaction, Garcia also executed a power of attorney, designating Central Motors as his attorney-in-fact so it could deliver the assigned certificate of title and other documents to make the application for registration and certificate of title on Garcia’s behalf. Central Motors obtained proof of insurance from Garcia and then transferred physical possession of the vehicle to him on July 24, 2014.
On August 11, 2014, Central Motors paid the required fees and submitted an application for a Kentucky certificate of title and registration and delivered the assigned certificate of title from Tennessee to the Fayette County Clerk. Central Motors then filed a title lien statement with the Woodford County Clerk on August 13, 2014. Woodford was the county in which Garcia resided.
Juan Garcia was the father of Darley Morales (Morales). Though Morales did not possess a valid driver’s license, Garcia let Morales drive the vehicle. On August 14, 2014, Morales was driving the 2002 BMW when he caused it to crash in a single vehicle accident. Morales had a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.145. The accident killed Morales and left his passenger, Zepeda, paralyzed. The title was issued in Garcia’s name the next day on August 15th and the registration was completed on the 18th, three days later.
Zepeda sued the Estate of Morales seeking compensatory and punitive damages; against Garcia for negligent entrustment; against Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Company (Allstate) for underinsured motorist coverage; and against Central Motors as the purported statutory owner of the vehicle.
Central Motors filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court ruled Central Motors had substantially complied with the statute when it submitted an application for certificate of title along with the previous title. The trial court reasoned Central Motors provided notice under KRS 186A.220(1) to the Fayette County Clerk when it submitted the aforementioned documents. Therefore, the trial court reasoned, under the Kentucky Supreme Court’s decision in Travelers Indem. Co. v. Armstrong, 565 S.W.3d 550 (Ky. 2018), that there was substantial compliance with KRS 186A.220.
ANALYSIS
In this case Central Motors was the title holder but Garcia had received physical possession of the BMW pursuant to a bona fide sale on July 24, 2014.
Despite Kentucky being a certificate of title state for the purpose of determining ownership and for requiring liability insurance coverage, KRS 186.010(7)(c) provides an exception to the general rule. If a licensed motor vehicle dealer delivers physical possession to the buyer and complies with KRS 186A.220 then ownership transfers upon physical delivery of the vehicle.
By violating the strict requirements of the provisions (namely, the 15 day requirement) but still accomplishing the goal (notifying the clerk of the acquisition of the vehicle), the intention of the statute is still upheld. Substantial compliance, i.e., late compliance, may still allow the dealer to take advantage of the exception in KRS 186.010(7)(c).
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The purpose of the KRS 186A.220(1) is to effectuate an efficient registration and titling process. If a dealer complies with these requirements late, it does not vitiate the overarching goal. The statute is directory and substantial compliance is sufficient for those sections.
A licensed dealer can cure an untimely compliance with KRS 186A.220, sections 1 through if the dealer has complied before the accident, it can still avail itself of the exception in KRS 186.010(7)(c).
KRS 186.010(7) provides: “’Owner’ means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or a person who pursuant to a bona fide sale has received physical possession of the vehicle subject to any applicable security interest.” and “A licensed motor vehicle dealer who transfers physical possession of a motor vehicle to a purchaser pursuant to a bona fide sale, and complies with the requirements of KRS 186A.220, shall not be deemed the owner of that motor vehicle solely due to an assignment to his dealership or a certificate of title in the dealership’s name. Rather, under these circumstances, ownership shall transfer upon delivery of the vehicle to the purchaser. . . . (emphasis added)
Central Motors substantially complied with KRS 186A.220 and transferred physical possession of the vehicle pursuant to a bona fide sale. As such, Central Motors was not the statutory owner of the vehicle on the date of the accident.
ZALMA OPINION
It is understandable that Zepeda, now a paraplegic, would seek the deep pockets of Central Motors and its insurers. Regardless, the technical argument failed because of the exceptions within the statute and the fact that Central Motors substantially complied with the requirements of the statute, Zepeda’s attempt to reach deep pockets failed and she is left with her suit against the driver, his father and the available insurers. She is also faced with a problem of comparative negligence by riding with an intoxicated, unlicensed driver who eventually drove into a tree and died in the effort.
(c) 2022 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders. He practiced law in California for more than 44 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer and more than 54 years in the insurance business. He is available at http://www.zalma.com and [email protected].
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Jury’s Findings Interpreting Insurance Contract Affirmed
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Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc. (“Madelaine Chocolate”) appealed the district court’s judgment following a jury verdict in favor of Great Northern Insurance Company (“Great Northern”) concerning storm-surge damage caused by “Superstorm Sandy” to Madelaine Chocolate’s production facilities.
In Madelaine Chocolate Novelties, Inc., d.b.a. The Madelaine Chocolate Company v. Great Northern Insurance Company, No. 23-212, United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (June 20, 2025) affirmed the trial court ruling in favor of the insurer.
BACKGROUND
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In Associated Industries Insurance Company, Inc. v. Sentinel Insurance Company, Ltd., No. 23-CV-10400 (MMG), United States District Court, S.D. New York (June 16, 2025) an insurance coverage dispute arising from a personal injury action in New York State Supreme Court.
The underlying action, Eduardo Molina v. Venchi 2, LLC, et al., concerned injuries allegedly resulting from a construction accident at premises owned by Central Area Equities Associates LLC (CAEA) and leased by Venchi 2 LLC with the USDC required to determine who was entitled to a defense from which insurer.
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Attack by Vicious Dog Excluded
In Foremost Insurance Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan v. Michael B. Steele and Sarah Brown and Kevin Lee Price, Civil Action No. 3:24-CV-00684, United States District Court, M.D. Pennsylvania (June 16, 2025)
Foremost Insurance Company (“Foremost”) sued Michael B. Steele (“Steele”), Sarah Brown (“Brown”), and Kevin Lee Price (“Price”) (collectively, “Defendants”). Foremost sought declaratory relief in the form of a declaration that
1. it owes no insurance coverage to Steele and has no duty to defend or indemnify Steele in an underlying tort action and
2. defense counsel that Foremost has assigned to Steele in the underlying action may withdraw his appearance.
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ZIFL Volume 29, Issue 10
The Source for the Insurance Fraud Professional
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Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 29th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ You can read the full issue of the May 15, 2025 issue at http://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ZIFL-05-15-2025.pdf
This issue contains the following articles about insurance fraud:
Health Care Fraud Trial Results in Murder for Hire of Witness
To Avoid Conviction for Insurance Fraud Defendants Murder Witness
In United States of America v. Louis Age, Jr.; Stanton Guillory; Louis Age, III; Ronald Wilson, Jr., No. 22-30656, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (April 25, 2025) the Fifth Circuit dealt with the ...
Professional Health Care Services Exclusion Effective
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This opinion is the recommendation of a Magistrate Judge to the District Court Judge and involves Travelers Casualty Insurance Company and its duty to defend the New Mexico Bone and Joint Institute (NMBJI) and its physicians in a medical negligence lawsuit brought by Tervon Dorsey.
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Insurance Coverage Dispute:
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A Heads I Win, Tails You Lose Story
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Posted on April 30, 2025 by Barry Zalma
"This is a Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud that explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story is designed to help everyone to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the Perpetrators than any Other Crime."
Immigrant Criminals Attempt to Profit From Insurance Fraud
People who commit insurance fraud as a profession do so because it is easy. It requires no capital investment. The risk is low and the profits are high. The ease with which large amounts of money can be made from insurance fraud removes whatever moral hesitation might stop the perpetrator from committing the crime.
The temptation to do everything outside the law was the downfall of the brothers Karamazov. The brothers had escaped prison in the old Soviet Union by immigrating to the United...
