Can the wheels of justice handle a golf cart?  Lisa and Donna worked for the Easter Seal Society and were riding together in a golf cart on a path on Society property.  Lisa was driving when suddenly the golf cart went out of control.  Donna was thrown and seriously injured.  She sued the Society, which claimed that she was working at the time and therefore was limited to worker’s compensation benefits.  Donna argued the worker’s comp policy specifically exempts accidents involving motor vehicles.  She argued a golf cart is a vehicle, has a motor and therefore is a motor vehicle.  But the Court found a motor vehicle has to be one that is or could be registered to ride on a public way and golf carts are not equipped with required equipment, which includes headlights, taillights, directional signals, rearview mirrors and windshield wipers.  Also, golf carts have no motor vehicle insurance.  So no motor vehicle, no lawsuit.  Sorry, Donna, you took a real swing at it, made some great arguments, but there seem to be a hole in one or more of them and any way you look at it, a golf cart is simply not a caddy.

THIS IS NEIL CHAYET LOOKING AT THE LAW™

Donna J. East v. Lisa M. Labbe, Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Tolland, 3/9/98, Sullivan, J., 1998 L.W. 111028

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