Opinion ID: 455801
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Liability for Defects in the Government's Procedure

Text: 22 This case is distinguishable from Aetna and Saloomey because the Jeppesen chart involved in this case accurately portrayed the instrument approach procedure provided by the Government. All of the defects in the Jeppesen chart stem from the Government's alleged failure to establish a safe instrument approach procedure. The district court instructed the jury as follows: 23 Now, the fact that Jeppesen's instrument approach charts are based on information which is supplied by the F.A.A. and which Jeppesen cannot deviate from or modify does not relieve Jeppesen from liability if a defect in the Jeppesen chart was a proximate cause of the accident. The manufacturer of a product is strictly liable for defects in that product even though the defect can be traced to a component part supplied by another. Thus if you find that Jeppesen's instrument approach chart is defective and that the defect was a proximate cause of the accident, you must find Jeppesen liable even if the defect exists only because you find that the F.A.A. designed an approach procedure that you find is itself defective. The issue is: was the Jeppesen chart defective? 24 The validity of that instruction presents a case of first impression. 25 Jeppesen contends that strict liability is inappropriate because the Government's procedure was beyond its control. 10 In essence, Jeppesen is arguing that it should not be held strictly liable because it is without fault in this case. It is beyond doubt that the concept of fault continues to have a role in strict liability law. See Powers, The Persistence of Fault in Products Liability, 61 Texas L.Rev. 777 (1983). Nevertheless, Jeppesen's position is untenable. 26 Initially, we note that Jeppesen had at least some ability to prevent injuries to users of its charts. Jeppesen's production specifications manual required its employees to research any procedure thoroughly to determine its validity and completeness. Jeppesen's president, Wayne Rosenkrans, testified that this requirement applied to the construction and composition of charts such as the one involved in this case. Jeppesen's manual requires its employees to contact official sources to resolve apparent discrepancies in information. Jeppesen maintained an office in Washington, D.C. with liaison to the FAA. Rosenkrans testified that Jeppesen's actions had led to changes in Government procedures. Accordingly, Jeppesen had both the ability to detect an error and a mechanism for seeking corrections. Under these circumstances, we reject Jeppesen's argument that the Government's procedure was completely beyond Jeppesen's control. 27 More fundamentally, however, existing products liability law is contrary to Jeppesen's position. Assuming that the Government's instrument approach procedure was defective, the literal requirements of section 402A are met. Jeppesen's chart was a product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user within the meaning of section 402A(1). Section 402A(2)(a) provides that strict liability is appropriate even though the seller has exercised all possible care in the preparation and sale of his product. A seller is strictly liable for injuries caused by a defective product even though the defect originated from a component part manufactured by another party. E.g., Vandermark v. Ford Motor Co., 61 Cal.2d 256, 262, 391 P.2d 168, 170, 37 Cal.Rptr. 896, 898 (1964); see Prosser and Keeton on the Law of Torts Sec. 100, at 705 (W. Keeton 5th ed. 1984). Accordingly, the appropriate focus of inquiry is not whether Jeppesen caused the product to be defective, but whether the product was in fact defective. See Greenman v. Yuba Power Products, Inc., 59 Cal.2d 57, 377 P.2d 897, 900, 27 Cal.Rptr. 697, 700 (1963). 28 The concept of fault has persisted in substantive products liability law primarily in determining whether a defective product is unreasonably dangerous. See Powers, supra, at 781-97. We note that the California courts have sought to purge the concept of fault from strict liability law by focusing on the existence of a defect, rather than inquiring whether the product is unreasonably dangerous. E.g., Barker v. Lull Engineering Co., 20 Cal.3d 413, 422-26, 573 P.2d 443, 449-52, 143 Cal.Rptr. 225, 231-34 (1978); Cronin v. J.B.E. Olson Corp., 8 Cal.3d 121, 127-35, 501 P.2d 1153, 1158-63, 104 Cal.Rptr. 433, 438-43 (1972). To the extent that Jeppesen's product was defective, the case law does not support an attempt to relieve Jeppesen of liability on the ground that the defect was not Jeppesen's fault. Comment c to section 402A of the Restatement (Second) of Torts states the policies underlying strict products liability as follows: 29 [T]he justification for strict liability has been said to be that the seller, by marketing his product for use and consumption, has undertaken and assumed a special responsibility toward any member of the consuming public who may be injured by it; that the public has the right to and does expect, in the case of products which it needs and for which it is forced to rely upon the seller, that reputable sellers will stand behind their goods; that public policy demands that the burden of accidental injuries caused by products intended for consumption be placed upon those who market them, and be treated as a cost of production against which liability insurance can be obtained; and that the consumer of such products is entitled to the maximum of protection at the hands of someone, and the proper person to afford it are those who market the product. 30 See also Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 24 Cal.2d 453, 150 P.2d 436, 440-44 (1944) (Traynor, J., concurring). All of those policies apply to the plaintiffs' claim in this case. To the extent that Jeppesen is held liable for the Government's misfeasance, Jeppesen had a right to seek tort law indemnification. 11 1] The fact that Jeppesen failed to seek tort law indemnification has no bearing on the plaintiffs' substantive rights. 31