Opinion ID: 444210
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The court correctly answered the question as a matter of law.

Text: 15 Fruehauf baldly asserts that failure of essential purpose is a question of fact for the jury. Under Washington law, however, a court commits error if it submits an issue to the jury without substantial evidence to support it. See Hughey v. Winthrop Motor Co., 61 Wash.2d 227, 377 P.2d 640 (1963); Shipp v. Curtis, 318 F.2d 797 (9th Cir.1963) (applying Washington law); Bean v. Stephens, 13 Wash.App. 364, 534 P.2d 1047 (1975). The testimony here showed that Fruehauf failed completely to honor its own repair or replace remedy, which represents a failure of essential purpose. The absence of substantial evidence to support Fruehauf's position meant that there was no issue of failure of essential purpose for the jury to decide. Therefore, the trial court was correct in not sending the question to the jury. 16