In re Certified Question from the Fourteenth District Court of Appeals of Texas v. Ford Motor Company
Michigan Supreme Court
479 Mich. 498 (2007)
- Written by Ross Sewell, JD
Facts
The estate of Carolyn Miller (Miller’s estate) (plaintiff) alleged that Miller died from mesothelioma that she contracted from washing the work clothes of her stepfather, Cleveland “John” Roland. Roland worked for independent contractors who were hired by Ford Motor Company (Ford) (defendant) to reline the interiors of blast furnaces at a Michigan plant. Miller’s estate alleged that Ford used materials that contained asbestos. Miller was never on or near Ford’s premises. After the Texas trial court denied Ford’s motion for a directed verdict, a Texas jury awarded Miller’s estate $9.5 million for Miller’s death due to negligence. After the trial court denied Ford’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, Ford filed an appeal in the Fourteenth District Court of Appeals of Texas, which certified the question to this court. The request was granted, and oral arguments were heard.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Markman, J.)
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