McKenna v. Straughan

Despite Cherie Straughan's serious drinking problem and history of drunk driving — including eight failed stints in recovery homes — her parents (defendants) loaned her money to buy a car; ten days later, driving drunk on the wrong side of the road, she hit her hairdresser Pamela McKenna (plaintiff) head-on. McKenna, who saw Cherie weekly and had personally urged the Straughans not to buy her another car (comparing it to "giving a six-year-old a loaded gun"), sued the Straughans for negligent entrustment; the trial court granted the Straughans summary judgment, reasoning they never actually owned or controlled the car and therefore never "entrusted" it. McKenna appealed.