Court Opinion

ID: 9558094
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:02:49.317906+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:19.370946
License: Public Domain

LOHR, Justice,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. I agree with Justice Quinn’s dissenting opinion except for his expressed differences with the majority as to the standard for justifiable reliance in a claim under § 402B of the Restatement (Second) of Torts. In my opinion the majority sets forth the correct standard but does not apply it properly to the facts of this case.
The majority states that “[jjustifiable reliance contemplates the reasonable exercise of knowledge and intelligence in assessing the represented facts.” Contrary to Justice Quinn’s views, this test imposes no duty of investigation upon a claimant. As I understand the majority’s statement, it means no more than that it is not justifiable for a person to rely on a representation which he knows to be untrue or, through exercise of his knowledge and intelligence, could not reasonably believe to be true. This is eminently sound. If the drafters of the Restatement (Second) of Torts meant anything to the contrary, I would not adopt their position as the law of this state.
As developed by part II of Justice Quinn’s dissent, however, the justifiability of Winkler’s reliance upon the manufacturer’s representations here is properly a question for the jury, even under the standard for justifiable reliance properly adopted by the majority. There is nothing in the record which would have required the jury as factfinder to determine that Winkler knew or must reasonably have believed that any representation by American that the helmet was suitable for motorcycling use was untrue. The sparse and inconclusive record references which the majority quotes as to Winkler’s training in the proper use of the helmet simply underscore this conclusion.
I would affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals and remand the case for a new trial on Winkler’s § 402B claim.