Witt v. Chrysler Corporation

167 N.W.2d 100, 15 Mich. App. 576, 1969 Mich. App. LEXIS 1528
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 30, 1969
DocketDocket 2,435
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 167 N.W.2d 100 (Witt v. Chrysler Corporation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Witt v. Chrysler Corporation, 167 N.W.2d 100, 15 Mich. App. 576, 1969 Mich. App. LEXIS 1528 (Mich. Ct. App. 1969).

Opinion

Quinn, J.

Plaintiff’s decedent was killed October 4,1962 in Wyoming when the motor vehicle in which he was a passenger left the road and rolled over. This wrongful death action ensued on a claim of product liability based on the theory that the fatal *579 accident was caused by a defective wheel'and rim manufactured by Budd Company for defendant. Plaintiff further claimed defendant negligently incorporated the defective wheel and rim in its truck, which was involved in the accident, and that def end- and failed to warn of the danger created thereby. Plaintiff also claimed breach of implied warranty of fitness.

As pleaded and tried, the action was against defendant and Budd Company. The trial resulted in a jury verdict for plaintiff in the amount of $150,-000 against both defendants and judgment entered thereon. Defendants moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for new trial and they appealed from the order denying new trial. While appeal was pending, Budd Company settled with plaintiff, but Chrysler Corporation continues the appeal.

“Ordinarily the granting of a motion for new trial rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, and affirmance of a denial of such motion depends on whether prejudicial error was committed.” Decker v. Schumacher (1945), 312 Mich 6, 12. We review the 12 errors asserted by defendant to determine if all, or any, are prejudicial.

At the close of proofs, plaintiff moved to amend her pleadings to conform to proofs and this motion was granted. Defendant says this was prejudicial error because it changed plaintiff’s theory of the case. The record discloses the amendment related to an issue which supported defendant’s theory, and one that was tried without objection even though not specifically raised by the pleadings. GrCR 1963, 118.3 controls and we find no error.

The next question is an evidentiary one. Defendant states it as follows:

*580 “Was there sufficient credible and conflicting testimony on which to present a question of fact for the jury as to whether Chrysler Corporation was guilty of negligence in failing to warn of a defect which, was known to them, or should have been known to them?”

The trial court answered this question in the affirmative. A review of the record convinces this Court that the affirmative answer is correct. There is evidence in the record from which the jury could have found that defendant knew or should have known of the defect. With such knowledge, negligence in failing to warn became a fact question for jury determination. Comstock v. General Motors Corporation (1959), 358 Mich 163, 178 (78 ALR2d 449).

Defendant attacks the opinion evidence of plaintiff’s expert witness, claiming such evidence was not sufficiently credible to submit to the jury for consideration as an aid in determining the ultimate fact. Defendant did not object to the admission of the expert’s testimony and the admission may not be questioned here. Cabana v. City of Hart (1950), 327 Mich 287 (19 ALR2d 333). Once admitted, the weight and credibility of such testimony is for the jury.

Next, defendant poses this question:

“Was there sufficient foundation of qualification and knowledge laid to allow plaintiff’s expert witness to testify as to his opinions relating to the adequacy or inadequacy of testing and inspecting wheels ?”

Defendant contends the answer should be no. Assuming defendant is correct and that error is established, we are unable to categorize it prejudicial in view of other testimony on testing and inspecting which corroborated the opinion testimony of plaintiff’s expert in this respect.

*581 Defendant attacks the submission to the jury as evidence of negligence the opinion testimony of plaintiff’s expert as to tests and inspection procedures that could have been made when it was not shown such tests were practical or standard or used by other manufacturers. Defendant argues that this submission resulted in it being held to a higher degree of care than the average in the industry, and that this is contrary to established law, citing Livesley v. Continental Motors Corporation (1951), 331 Mich 434. The testimony defendant attacks was admitted without proper objection and there was no motion to strike. It appears defendant is attempting to do by indirection on appeal what it should have done directly at trial. This is not permitted.

However, the substance of the argument just discussed is inherent in defendant’s next question phrased as follows:

“Was the jury allowed to speculatively set its own standard as to whether appellant observed a reasonable stándard of care in inspection and testing of wheels in the charge received from the court?”

Defendant requested the following instruction:

“I charge you that the failure to apply tests which plaintiff claims would have shown up latent defects in the wheel used on the Dodge truck would not be evidence of negligence where the tests suggested by plaintiff through his witnesses were shown either to be less efficient or sensitive or were not such as experience had proven practicable or shown to be used in the industry or considered to be a standard test.”

This was refused and the court instructed as follows:

“Testimony of those experienced in the business concerning observance of certain standards, cus *582 toms, or regulations involved in the automobile manufacturing and assembly business for safety testing and safety inspection of wheels being manufactured and assembled, is evidence which you may properly consider. However, such standards, customs, and regulations are not necessarily controlling, nor do you need consider them if you believe" otherwise. Likewise, expert testimony as to reasonable, necessary safety testing and safety inspection reasonably required for safety and done or not done, or had by the defendants in their automobile manufacturing and assembly business, may also be considered by you. However, such testimony or lack of testing or inspection is not necessarily bound thereby. The point is this: the observance of a custom or a failure to observe it in a particular business, does not necessarily amount to due care or lack of it; but it is such evidence as is admissible as tending to show what a reasonably prudent manufacturer or person would do under same or similar circumstances.
“Now as to the matter of common prudence. The fact that it is not customary to employ certain testing and inspection will not excuse a manufacturer for its failure to provide them, if common prudence requires their use in a particular case.”

The fact that the requested instruction was refused and the last quoted instruction was given is the basis of defendant’s complaint that it was held to a higher degree of care than the average in the industry and that the jury was allowed speculatively to set its own standard of reasonable care in inspection and testing.

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Farr v. Wheeler Manufacturing Corp.
180 N.W.2d 311 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1970)
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Chrysler Corp. v. Budd Co.
167 N.W.2d 105 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1969)

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Bluebook (online)
167 N.W.2d 100, 15 Mich. App. 576, 1969 Mich. App. LEXIS 1528, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/witt-v-chrysler-corporation-michctapp-1969.