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Products Liability Keyed Owen, 8th Ed.
Soule v. General Motors Corp.
Citation:
882 P.2d 298 (1994)Facts
In January 1984, plaintiff Terri Soule was driving her 1982 Camaro when a Datsun skidded into her path. The collision bent the Camaro’s frame, tore loose the bracket attaching the wheel assembly to the frame, and caused the wheel to collapse rearward and inward. This collapse caused the toe pan (floorboard area beneath the pedals) to deform upward into the passenger compartment. Soule suffered severe ankle fractures, particularly a compound compression fracture of her left ankle that never healed properly and required joint fusion, leaving her permanently disabled. Soule sued GM, claiming the wheel collapse and toe pan deformation were caused by manufacturing and design defects. GM denied any defect, arguing that the force of the collision alone caused the injuries and that Soule’s ankles would have broken regardless of any alleged defect. The case involved extensive expert testimony from both sides regarding metallurgy, biomechanics, crash testing, and vehicle design. The jury found in favor of Soule, concluding that a defect in the Camaro was a legal cause of her enhanced injuries.
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