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Legislative Process Keyed to Bressman, 4th Ed.
Grimshaw v. Ford Motor Co.
Citation:
119 Cal.App.3d 757, 174 Cal. Rptr. 348 (1981)Facts
The 1972 Ford Pinto was designed with its fuel tank positioned behind the rear axle with minimal “crush space” between the tank and the rear bumper. Ford’s crash tests revealed that the Pinto’s fuel tank was vulnerable to rupture in rear-end collisions at speeds as low as 20-30 mph, potentially causing fires. Despite knowledge of these defects and the availability of inexpensive design modifications (costing $4-$8 per car) that could have made the fuel system safer, Ford management decided to proceed with production without implementing these fixes. This decision was based on cost-benefit analyses that balanced human lives against corporate profits. When Mrs. Gray’s Pinto stalled on the freeway and was struck from behind, the fuel tank was punctured, causing a fire that fatally burned Mrs. Gray and severely injured 13-year-old Grimshaw, who required numerous surgeries and skin grafts for his burns.
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