DALY V. GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Sup. Ct Ca., 20 Cal.3d 725, 575 P.2d 1162, 144 Cal.Rptr. 380 (1978)
NATURE OF THE CASE: Daly (Ps) appealed from a judgment for General Motors (D) in a
products liability action.
FACTS: Daly (P), a 36-year-old attorney, was driving his Opel on the Harbor Freeway in
Los Angeles. P was travelling at a speed of 50-70 miles per hour, and collided with and
damaged 50 feet of metal divider fence. After the initial impact the Opel spun
counterclockwise, the driver's door was thrown open, and P was forcibly ejected from the car
and sustained fatal head injuries. It was equally undisputed that had the deceased remained
in the Opel his injuries, in all probability, would have been relatively minor. Ps, who are
decedent's widow and three surviving minor children, sued D for strict liability for damages
allegedly caused by a defective product, namely, an improperly designed door latch claimed
to have been activated by the impact. It was further asserted that, but for the faulty
latch, decedent would have been restrained in the vehicle and, although perhaps injured,
would not have been killed. At trial, Ds were permitted to introduce evidence indicating
that the car was equipped with a seat belt-shoulder harness system, and a door lock, either
of which if used, it was contended, would have prevented P's ejection from the vehicle. It
was established that D used neither the harness system nor the lock. The Opel owner's manual
contained warnings that seat belts should be worn and doors locked when the car was in
motion for 'accident security.' It was also established that P was intoxicated at the time
of collision, which evidence the jury was advised was admitted for the limited purpose of
determining whether P had used the vehicle's safety equipment. The jury returned a verdict
favoring Ds and Ps appealed.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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