Irina Pearson
Gregory Nicolas Schienbein, 16, does not owe any money for the damage of his friend’s parents’ car, a Los Angeles Superior Courthouse Commissioner Martin E. Green decided April 7.
Shannon Walker filed a lawsuit asking for repayment of half of the $3,000 she had to pay for an insurance settlement on her car after her son Andrew and his friend Gregory Nicolas were involved in a car accident.
Neither of the boys had driver’ licenses when Schienbein talked Walker into taking his mother’s vehicle without her permission Dec. 27, 2008.
“Nick convinced my son Andrew to steal my car and drive around to meet girls and eventually getting involved in an accident,” Walker said. “After the accident Nick told me that he would assume full responsibility, that it was his fault.”
Walker’s husband said their other son also heard “Nick saying he took full responsibility.”
Schienbein argued he saw his friend’s father letting the boy drive before.
Walker’s father said he would only let his son drive the car under his supervision “to learn to drive.”
“I was under the impression of how cool it was that Andrew’s father allowed him to drive his car,” Schienbein said. “I have seen their car parked in front of our house a few times.”
The commissioner appeared to be puzzled about the case. He asked Schienbein if his friend has given him any rides in the past and if he saw his mother giving him car keys, to which Schienbein answered he saw it happening several times.
“I just don’t understand this case,” he said. “Frankly, I don’t see the cause of action here to rule in favor of you, Mrs.Walker.”
Walker insisted her son was convinced by his friend and wouldn’t have done it by himself.
“I just don’t think that makes Nick or his father responsible,” the commissioner said. “It was your son who took the keys and it was your son who got behind the wheels. It’s not like Nick put a gun to Andrew’s head!”
The commissioner ruled that because Andrew Walker was driving without a driver’s license, it was a misdemeanor and that Gregory Nicolas Schienbein did not owe Shannon Walker any money.