Elderly Oregon man is sued when car thieves are injured in wreck

Sweet ride, bro. Mind if I steal it, wreck it, and sue you for my injuries?

Today’s frivolous lawsuit story is brought to you by 35-year-old Joseph Dinwiddie, suing 89-year-old George Hinnencamp for injuries sustained during a car wreck.  However, Hinnencamp was not driving; in fact, Dinwiddie was driving drunk in Hinnencamp’s car, having stolen it just moments earlier.

Hinnencamp had previously hired Dinwiddie for odd jobs, and had allowed him to use the car in the past.  However, Dinwiddle had no such permission on the day Hinnencamp returned home from shopping to find his car gone.  Dinwiddie, who was intoxicated, took off with two passengers, and in the subsequent wreck, all three were injured.  Dinwiddie now argues that Hinnencamp is liable because he gave permission to drive the car in the past.

Fortunately, Hinnencamp’s Pontiac Firebird was fully insured at the time, but this most likely sparked the lawsuit, as insurance companies typically prefer to settle rather than pay to defend in a lawsuit.  Dinwiddie was convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving intoxicated, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, and two counts of third-degree assault for injuring passengers Cunningham and Oscar. [Source; Image]