Pavoni v. Chrysler Group, No. 13-55761 (9th Cir. 2015)
Annotate this CasePlaintiffs, the three surviving children of Rose Coats, filed suit against Chrysler, contending that Chrysler is liable for the deaths of Rose and her husband under the theories of strict liability, negligent design and failure to warn, negligence, and wrongful death. The district court granted summary judgment to Chrysler. The court found that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether a “false park” defect in the Coats’ Grand Caravan caused the deaths of Roy and Rose Coats. The court also found that the district court incorrectly applied the relevant substantive law. Therefore, the court reversed the summary judgment order of the district court and remanded for further proceedings. The court also vacated the award of costs.
Court Description: Strict Products Liability. The panel reversed the district court’s summary judgment in favor of Chrysler Group, LLC and vacated the district court’s award of costs in the plaintiffs’ diversity action against Chrysler alleging strict products liability and other theories concerning liability for deaths that occurred in a 2008 Chrysler Grand Caravan automobile. The panel held that genuine issues of material fact existed as to whether a “false park” defect in the Grand Caravan caused the deaths of the plaintiffs’ mother and her husband. The panel also held that the district court incorrectly applied the relevant California substantive law.
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