Court Opinion

ID: 9663610
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:44:45.435332+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:53.192387
License: Public Domain

On Petition for Rehearing.
On April 28, 1961, the following opinion was filed:
Per Curiam.
Defendant General Motors contends in its petition for rehearing that our opinion in the instant case is inconsistent with our decision in Hofstedt v. International Harvester Co. 256 Minn. 453, 98 N. W. (2d) 808. While the rule laid down in the Hofstedt case still prevails in this jurisdiction, we find no difficulty in distinguishing that case from the case at bar.
In the Hofstedt case the only evidence on which to base a finding of negligence on the part of the manufacturer was testimony of an expert who examined the equipment nearly 2 years after it had been sold and delivered to plaintiff’s brother and about 1 year and 8 months after the accident occurred. In the period after the accident and before the inspection, the equipment had not only been used extensively but had been adjusted by the dealer. We held there that the evidence was insufficient to support a recovery against the manufacturer.
In the instant case there was testimony of a witness who examined the automobile within 3 days after it had been sold and delivered to the plaintiff and immediately after the accident. In addition there was testimony that no adjustment had been made by anyone after the sale and delivery of the car to the plaintiff and prior to the accident. It was, therefore, our opinion that the testimony presented a rational *427inference that the erratic drive described in the opinion was caused by a car malfunction or defect which could have existed before the incident and that under the circumstances plaintiff was entitled to have the jury pass on the issue of negligence and causation on the part of the defendant General Motors. Our opinion in that respect has not changed.
Petition denied.