Court Opinion

ID: 9765128
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 03:52:08.87096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:05.638402
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
DIES, Chief Justice.
I respectfully dissent. Since this is a case of first impression, what is a good rule for today’s problems need not be influenced by stare decisis. In a strict liability case, the majority opinion requires the product consumer to make the proper choice after discovery of a defect in the product to avoid injury, or be denied recovery because of contributory negligence. This comes pretty close to declaring contributory negligence as a defense in such cases.
Here is why I think this to be unwise Ford Motor Company, or any other car manufacturer, knows that its products will be legally used by all kinds of persons, different ages, different intellects, different training, even different reactions. To require of them ordinary conduct after discovery of a defect goes a long way, I think, in weakening the rule of strict liability and the rationale behind it.
Of course, had Mrs. Henderson voluntarily used the car in question after knowledge of its problems, Ford should have this defense. Or, if she had “misused” the car and the misuse had caused her injuries, Ford should have this defense.
*713But, the most that can be said here is that under trying circumstances, unknown before to her, and not caused by her, Mrs. Henderson might have prevented her injuries by making a wiser choice of her options. This, in my judgment, should not be a defense in strict liability cases.