AMI 605 Responsibility to Control Minor Children
Ark. Model Jury Instr., Civil AMI 605
Arkansas Model Jury Instructions-Civil
December 2023 Update
Chapter 6. Specific Factors Affecting Negligence and Defenses
AMI 605 Responsibility to Control Minor Children
If a parent has the opportunity and ability to control a minor child and has knowledge of the child's tendency to commit acts which could normally be expected to cause injury to others, ordinary care requires the parent to exercise reasonable means to control the child.
COMMENT
Harvey v. Shaver, 247 Ark. 92, 444 S.W.2d 256 (1969) (Parents may be responsible for leaving fireworks in an unlocked utility room, which eleven-year-old son discharged, causing injury to plaintiff's son). Williams v. Davidson, 241 Ark. 699, 409 S.W.2d 311 (1966) (Parent may be responsible when he left in an unlocked closet a BB gun which his son had misused in the past). Bieker v. Owens, 234 Ark. 97, 350 S.W.2d 522 (1961) (Parents are required to exercise reasonable care over reckless and malicious conduct of a son).
See AMI 801 for the statutory rule of parental liability for property damage caused by the willful or malicious conduct of a minor.
© 2023 Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions-Civil
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