ESCOLA V. COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. OF FRESNO
24 Cal. 2d 453, 150 P.2d 436 (1944)
NATURE OF THE CASE: Escola (P) brought an action against Coca Cola (D) to recover for
personal injuries resulting from a defective, exploding bottle of carbonated beverage. D
appealed a judgment on a jury verdict in favor of P. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur was
inapplicable and that the evidence was insufficient to support the judgment.
FACTS: D's driver delivered several cases of Coca Cola to the restaurant, placing them on
the floor, one on top of the other. P, a waitress, picked up the top case and then proceeded
to take the bottles from the case and put them one at a time into the refrigerator. The
fourth bottle exploded in her hand. The bottle broke into two jagged pieces and inflicted a
deep five-inch cut, severing blood vessels, nerves and muscles of the thumb and palm of the
hand. P sued D claiming that D was negligent in selling 'bottles containing said beverage
which on account of excessive pressure of gas or by reason of some defect in the bottle was
dangerous...and likely to explode.' There were plenty of witnesses around. The contents of
the bottle flew all over P and another and the walls. D's driver testified that he had seen
other bottles of Coca Cola in the past explode and had found broken bottles in the warehouse
when he took the cases out, but that he did not know what made them blow up. P rested her
case, having announced to the court that being unable to show any specific acts of
negligence she relied completely on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. P got the verdict and
D appealed. The jury entered a verdict for P.
ISSUE:
RULE OF LAW:
HOLDING AND DECISION:
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
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