Opinion ID: 548798
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Recall Evidence.

Text: 27 Jaguar next charges that the district court abused its discretion by admitting evidence of a Jaguar recall campaign. Throughout the trial, Jaguar argued that evidence of the recall was irrelevant and prejudicial, since the Hessen vehicle was not specifically included within the recall. Nevertheless, the district court properly held that if Allstate could show that the defect alleged in the Hessen vehicle was the same as the defect involved in the recall, then evidence of the Jaguar recall campaign would be admitted for jury consideration. (Order on Motions to Exclude, April 13, 1989). 14 28 Jaguar's recall was motivated by the discovery of a defect in a range of 1980, 1981 and 1982 Jaguar XJ6 Series III and XJS vehicles, described in a letter mailed to Jaguar owners: The potential exists for fuel leakage in the engine compartment due to the possibility of deterioration in the integrity of the high pressure fuel hose connections (R8-47; Pl.Ex. No. 5). At trial, plaintiff Allstate proffered testimony through its expert that the defect identified in the recall and the defect existing in the subrogors' vehicle were the same, despite the fact that the Hessen's vehicle was not within the specific range of vehicles specified by Jaguar for the recall. 15 Because Allstate met its burden of providing evidence that the defect alleged was the same defect involved in the recall campaign, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting the recall evidence, and the jury properly could have considered it. 16 29