Strategies, Challenges, and Answers

The Immense Sacrifice Of Our Fallen Heroes Must Always Be Remembered . . .

“Was it worth it?” This is a question, sometimes politically-loaded, that is often asked of family members and war buddies of our Fallen Heroes. Marine Corps General John Kelly recently offered a unique perspective. A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan himself, General Kelly lost his youngest son, First Lieutenant Robert Kelly, while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province in 2010. General Kelly was asked if the loss was worth it by a reporter with National Public Radio. He said, … [Read more...]

Nevada Court Finds That The Graves Amendment Preempts NRS 482.305.

The Nevada Law Blogs have written a lot about Rental Car Liability and the Graves Amendment.  Those posts need an update as a result of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgment entered in Avalos v. Estate of Cunningham et al, Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct. Case No. A-22-862769-C (Apr. 14, 2023).   The Avalos case involves a woman who rented a vehicle from Budget Car and Truck Rental of Las Vegas.  While driving the rented car, the renter was involved in a parking lot accident.  Avalos … [Read more...]

The Graves Amendment Eliminates Vicarious Liability Of Motor Vehicle Rental Companies . . . Mostly?

“This article was originally published in the October 2016 issue of COMMUNIQUÉ, the official publication of the Clark County Bar Association.” Many lawyers are unfamiliar with the 2005 Graves Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 30106(a). This federal law eliminates vicarious liability claims against vehicle rental companies based exclusively on a company’s status as the owner of the vehicle. Most direct challenges to the law have failed. But practitioners have found ways around effects of the law and may … [Read more...]