Crews v. General Motors Corp.

253 N.W.2d 617, 400 Mich. 208, 1977 Mich. LEXIS 138
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 2, 1977
Docket56853, (Calendar No. 15)
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 253 N.W.2d 617 (Crews v. General Motors Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Crews v. General Motors Corp., 253 N.W.2d 617, 400 Mich. 208, 1977 Mich. LEXIS 138 (Mich. 1977).

Opinion

Coleman, J.

(to affirm). Glen and Barbara Crews filed suit against General Motors Corporation (GM) on November 6, 1967 in Wayne County circuit court.

Count I of the complaint said GM breached an "implied warranty that the engine was fit for the purpose intended * * * the express warranty that said engine would operate properly and safely and was safe to operate and maintain * * * [and] express warranties by agents or employees * * * *214 that said engine was not defective and would operate properly and was safe to operate and maintain”. Count II accused GM of negligence in failing to examine and test the engine and in failing to make adequate repairs.

GM countered that it would show that "plaintiff misused the product and was guilty of contributory negligence in attempting to repair the engine without following accepted repair procedures and in starting the engine with the head off”.

At the close of plaintiffs’ proofs, the trial court granted defendant’s motion for directed verdict. The Court of Appeals affirmed being convinced that "even if the evidence sufficed to show a defect in the engine, there was absolutely no showing that this defect caused the fire”.

We would affirm the Court of Appeals.

I

Mr. Crews was employed by Groesbeck Lumber Co. as a truck mechanic. He "was supposed to do the motor tune-up, change the oil, do all the greasing and maintenance of the truck”. Crews had been employed as a mechanic by several other businesses. He considered himself a qualified automobile mechanic and said he was "hired in [at Groesbeck] to keep the trucks going, it was my job”.

A GM truck owned by Groesbeck had a V-12 engine which plaintiff’s brief admits "consists essentially of two 6-cylinder engines, front and rear, with a common crank shaft”. The truck lost power while pulling a full load. GM had serviced it on several occasions.

When the problem persisted, Mr. Crews tried to *215 fix it. 1 On November 24, 1964, he removed the floor boards which covered part of the engine. He checked the fuel pressure and then removed a manifold. He was sitting in the cab with one foot on the engine when he "turned the key on and an explosion * * * came out number 7 intake port”. This started a fire. Mr. Crews dropped the fuel lines he was holding and the gasoline also ignited. Mr. Crews was badly burned.

When plaintiffs’ proofs were presented, GM received a directed verdict. The transcript containing the judge’s ruling is garbled. The Court of Appeals reviewed the testimony and was convinced that "even if the evidence sufficed to show a defect in the engine, there was absolutely no showing that this defect [an allegedly defective valve] caused the fire”.

The fire was caused by Mr. Crews turning the ignition key under what he knew to be unsafe conditions. Because certain wires were not disconnected, a spark was produced which ignited the gasoline. General Motors should not be liable for the resulting injuries.

On cross-examination, Mr. Crews admitted that the "entire commission [sic], the engine, the design or shape are mainly the same” as between gasoline engines no matter how many cylinders they have — 4, 6, 8, 12. He knew the engine might start if the ignition key were turned. He knew how to avoid this by disconnecting the ignition from the wires in the coil before cranking the engine.

Mr. Crews believed the fire was caused by sparks *216 produced by turning the ignition key. There would have been no spark if the wires were disconnected:

”Q. And they will tell on the front page of the ignition system, that is the thing to do, don’t they?
'A. That says V-6, am I right?
”Q. Did you have some notion that V-12, which was made up of two six-cylinders wouldn’t spark and wouldn’t ignite the gas?
’A. Certainly.
”Q. How about a four-cylinder engine if you crank that and you don’t disconnect the ignition, the ignition wires, you can get a spark can’t you?
'A. Right.
”Q. And it can ignite because of that?
’A. Right.
”Q. On a six the same thing and on a eight the same thing, right?
’A. Right.
"Q. And on a 12 the same thing?
'A. It doesn’t say in the book.
”Q. I didn’t say it said 12, but you know that without being told in the book?
'A. A 12 sir—
"Q. Did you know that without the book, Mr. Crews, without the book telling you?
'A. Yes, sir.
"Q. So you want to be sure to disconnect it right?
'A. Right.”

Mr. Crews was an experienced automotive mechanic, familiar with trucks. He was hired to service and maintain the trucks of Groesbeck Lumber Co., including two with V-12 engines (two V-6 engines). He knew that the ignition wires of gasoline engines should be disconnected under the circumstances. Mr. Crews said he did not need a manual to tell him the wires should be discon *217 nected. He was working with a fuel line. Fumes were escaping. It would not take even such an expert mechanic to know that sparks could result in fire. Mr. Crews knew what he should have done, but did not do it.

Perhaps for these reasons he did not even plead failure to warn.

II

In their brief, plaintiffs say the case was tried

"on the theories of breach of express and implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purpose, breach of express warranty of repair, and negligence in repair. * * * Plaintiffs also tried their case on the theory that GM’s breach of its express warranty to repair proximately caused the injuries to Crews and GM is liable for such injuries, whether there was a defect in the engine or not.”

This was the case GM defended.

Breach of warranty and negligence are inapplicable to these facts. In Piercefield v Remington Arms Co, Inc, 375 Mich 85, 97-99; 133 NW2d 129 (1965), plaintiff was injured when his brother’s shotgun exploded. The trial court said there was no implied warranty because there was no privity of contract.

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Bluebook (online)
253 N.W.2d 617, 400 Mich. 208, 1977 Mich. LEXIS 138, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/crews-v-general-motors-corp-mich-1977.