Gibberson v. Ford Motor Co.
Missouri Supreme Court
504 S.W.2d 8 (1974)

- Written by Emily Laird, JD
Facts
An officer was driving a police car manufactured by Ford (defendant) when the car’s motor exploded, producing a dense cloud of smoke and gas that severely restricted the visibility of the other drivers on the road and caused a multiple-car pileup. The Gibberson family’s car was involved in the collision. The Gibbersons (plaintiffs) sued Ford in state court, claiming that the police car’s defective engine proximately caused their injuries. Ford responded by filing a motion to dismiss, claiming that products-liability protections extended to the purchasers of Ford’s vehicles, but not to bystanders such as the Gibbersons. The lower court sustained Ford’s motion to dismiss. The Gibbersons appealed to the state supreme court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Morgan, J.)
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