Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co.

21 Mass. L. Rptr. 661
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedDecember 11, 2006
DocketNo. 050538
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 21 Mass. L. Rptr. 661 (Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co., 21 Mass. L. Rptr. 661 (Mass. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

Fremont-Smith, Thayer, J.

Introduction

This case is brought as a proposed class action by purchasers of certain models of Ford automobiles, alleging that the outside door handle systems (“door latches”) on the autos are defective and could accidentally open in event of certain types of motor vehicle collisions. Plaintiffs allege that the latches are unreasonably dangerous because they do not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 206 (“Safety Standard 206”), 49 C.F.R. §571.206,1 or with Ford’s own internal standards. None of the plaintiffs, however, are alleged to have actually been involved in a collision where their doors have accidentally opened.

Plaintiffs claim that defendants Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Company of Canada (“Ford”) have violated Chapter 93A, §§2 and 9 (Count I), engaged in a civil conspiracy to violate Chapter 93A (Count II), breached express and implied warranties (Count III and IV), and were unjustly enriched (Count V).

For purposes of a motion for judgment on the pleadings, the Court assumes as true the plaintiffs’ assertion of facts.

As gleaned from the pleadings, plaintiffs allege that the outside door handle systems are defective for the following Ford autos: 1997 to 2000 Ford F-150 series; 1997-2000 Ford F250 (light duty); 1997-2000 Ford Expeditions; and, 2000 Ford F150 Super Crew trucks because they do not comply with Safety Standard 206, which specifically addresses door latch retention and integrity. In pertinent part, this safety standard requires that the latch systems must be tested for strength in the longitudinal load, transverse load, and the inertia load. 49 C.F.R. §571.206, §5.1.1. The longitudinal and transverse load must be tested utilizing the Society of Automotive Engineers Recommended Practice J839 (“SAE J839”), while “inertia load” can be tested utilizing SAE J839 or other “approved tests.” Id. at S5.1.1.2.

It is alleged that Ford initially used the SAE J839 method to test the door latches, and that, because certain component manufacturers used the wrong number in their calculations, the door latches initially “passed” the SAE J839 tests during early compliance testing. Plaintiffs allege, however, that Ford then received credible information confirming the non-compliance and safety hazards associated with the defective door latches. This included results from impact testing of the autos in October 1995 and August 1997, where, upon impact, certain side doors would open. In September 1997, Ford allegedly had a review group investigate the issue of the doors opening upon impact. Again, in February 2000 Ford investigated, and in March 2000, an engineering report [662]*662acknowledged that the door handles did not comply with Safety Standard 206 and recommended a recall campaign. It is further alleged that, in March 2000, a memorandum recommended a safety-related recall campaign, but that Ford then revised the memorandum and canceled the proposed recall.

At some point, Ford used a 1967 General Motors test (“GM test”) to demonstrate compliance with Safety Standard 206, and in particular, with the “inertia load” requirement. Plaintiffs claim that this “30 year-old methodology” had never been used by Ford previously or since, and was never referenced in any internal compliance work. Moreover, Ford did not notify the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (“Transportation Safety Agency”) of its issues with the door latches or its decision to rely on the GM test.2

Plaintiffs allege they are injured by the defective door latches in that they (1) own vehicles that are unsafe, (2) own vehicles that are worth less than their value were they to comply with all safety standards, and (3) will incur the cost of repairing the vehicles to make them safe. (First Amended Complaint, para. 81.)

Ford has moved for judgment on the pleadings with respect to all of plaintiffs’ claims, arguing that plaintiffs’ alleged causes of action conflict with federal regulations, so are pre-empted by federal law, that plaintiffs have failed to allege any cognizable injury because they have not suffered any personal injuiy or actual damages from the allegedly defective door latches, and that the claims are time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations.

The Applicable Legal Standard

A motion for judgment on the pleadings is “to challenge the legal sufficiency of the complaint.” Burlington v. District Attorney for the N. Dist., 381 Mass. 717, 717-18 (1980). For purposes of such a motion, the moving party is deemed to admit the complaint’s allegations of fact, whereas the moving party’s allegations are taken as true only if specifically admitted by the plaintiff. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. United States, 490 F.Sup. 328, 329 n.1 (E.D.N.Y. 1980). For purposes of the court’s consideration of a Rule 12 motion, all of the well pleaded factual allegations in the adversaiy’s pleadings are assumed to be true and all contravening assertions in the movant’s pleadings are taken to be false. 5 Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure §1368, at 691 (1969). Minaya v. Massachusetts Credit Union Share Ins. Co., 392 Mass. 904, 905 (1984).

Damages

Plaintiffs assert they have been injured because they (1) own vehicles that are unsafe, (2) own vehicles that are worth less than their value would be if they complied with safety standards, and (3) would have to incur the cost of repairing the vehicles to make them safe. Ford, however, argues that plaintiffs have not pled facts showing that they have suffered any injuiy or harm for which relief can be granted.

Count I. Chapter 93A

The allegations of the amended complaint to the effect that Ford was aware of a dangerous condition but went to great lengths to cover it up rather than to address it certainly alleges a c. 93A violation. The question is whether plaintiffs allege a cognizable injuiy under c. 93A. In the recent case of Hershenow v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Co. of Boston, Inc., 445 Mass. 790 (2006), the Court considered whether consumers who rented motor vehicles from the defendant had stated a c. 93A claim where the car rental contract had provided that the collision damage deductible for an accident would not be waived if the renter violated any provision of the rental agreement. The Court concluded that, since no plaintiff had actually been in a collision so as to have invoked the rental contract, there was no cognizable injuiy under c. 93A, which permits an action under §9 only by any person “injured” by another’s unfair or deceptive act. The SJC described the alleged injury as “speculative at best, and premature.” Id. at 802, n.21. The Court concluded (at 802):

Every consumer is, of course, entitled to the full protection of law. If any person invades a consumer’s legally protected interests, and if that invasion causes the consumer a loss — whether that loss be economic or noneconomic — the consumer is entitled to redress under our consumer protection statute. A consumer is not, however, entitled to redress under G.L.c. 93A, where no loss has occurred. To permit otherwise is irreconcilable with the express language of G.L.c. 93A, §9, and our earlier case law.

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Related

Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co.
25 Mass. L. Rptr. 33 (Massachusetts Superior Court, 2008)

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Bluebook (online)
21 Mass. L. Rptr. 661, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/iannacchino-v-ford-motor-co-masssuperct-2006.