Drunk, Joyriding Husband Covered by Insurance in Michigan for Crash

A western Michigan man excluded from his wife’s insurance policy still is eligible for benefits in a drunken crash, thanks to a line of court decisions that covers joyriders from the same family.

The state appeals court this week reluctantly overturned a ruling from an Ottawa County judge and said two Grand Rapids hospitals can be reimbursed for the care of Ryan DeYoung.

DeYoung in 2008 took his wife’s Bravada without permission and was in a crash while intoxicated. He was specifically excluded from her insurance.

But the appeals court says a line of cases beginning in 1992 at the Michigan Supreme Court grants coverage to joyriding family members of the insured. The three-judge panel says it doesn’t agree but says it must follow legal precedent.