| komodo |
11-29-2005 02:22 AM |
And here's another law exam... semi-logic problem, semi-law problem:
Quote:
X was seriously injured when the hang glider he was flying crashed. X intends to sue Y, owner of a local sporting goods store where he purchased the hang glider. He plans to sue Y for damages for his injuries, upon a theory of product liability. The suit will be in a state court in Sycamore, USA. Sycamore is where X and Y reside and where the accident occurred.
Y purchased the hang glider from the manufacturer, Z. It is the only hang glider that Y purchased for sale in the store. Y does not intend to stock hang gliders in the future. Should it become liable upon a judgment to X, Y will seek indemnification from Z. Z sells a large volume of hang gliders in Sycamore -- some through independent retailers like Y and some through direct sales to consumers at its Sycamore factory.
X will claim in its suit against Y that the crash occurred because the hang glider was defectively and unsafely designed. Y's case will be that, if the jury finds as a matter of fact that X was attempting to operate the hang glider in a way that posed an open and obvious danger, X cannot recover even if the product was designed improperly. This is a case of first impression in the Sycamore state courts. That is, Sycamore courts have not previously been presented with the question whether a finding that a product was used in such a way as to create an open and obvious danger bars product liability recovery. The question has reached the highest court in six other states. In three such cases, the courts ruled that a finding that a product was used in a way creating an open and obvious danger did not bar product liability recovery. In the other three, the courts ruled that such a finding was an absolute bar to product liability recovery. Should X's case reach the Sycamore Supreme Court, that court's decision either way, on whether a finding that the product was used in a way creating an open and obvious danger bars product liability recovery, will probably be binding on subsequent Sycamore cases for years to come.
Assume for this question (except as modified only in Part Three, below) that Sycamore state courts use rules of civil procedure that are the same as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Assume also that X, Y and Z could all be made parties in this Sycamore case so far as the court's personal jurisdiction, subject matter jurisdiction and venue are concerned.
The question is divided into five parts. Remember to separate each part clearly and to answer the parts in the order in which they are presented.
Part One
Assume the following only for this Part. X wishes to make a product liability claim in this case against Y, and X also wishes to make a product liability claim against Z. Can X make both of these claims in his case? What is X's best arguments? Will they succeed? Why or why not?
Part Two
Assume the following only for this Part. X sues only Y in X's product liability case. Neither X or Y wish to add Z as a party. However, Z learns of the case and wishes to make itself a party? Can Z do so? What are Z's best arguments? Will they succeed? Why or why not?
Part Three
Assume the following only for this Part. Sycamore has adopted for use by its state courts all of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure except Rule 14. Consequently, no authority exists in Sycamore state court for joining a party by impleader. (Remember, even in this part, all of the other Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are in use in Sycamore state court.) Assume also that X sues only Y in X's product liability case and that Z does not want to be a party in the case. Y wishes to bring Z into the case as an additional defendant. Can Y do so? What are Y's best arguments? Will they succeed? Why or why not? DON'T FORGET. IMPLEADER IS MISSING FROM THE SYCAMORE STATE RULES OF PROCEDURE ONLY IN THIS PART.
Part Four
Assume the following only for this Part. X sues only Y in X's product liability case. Neither X nor Y wishes to add Z as a party. Nor does Z wish to be a party in the case. X's case against Y proceeds to trial. The jury found there that at X was operating the hang glider so as to create an open and obvious danger. On the basis of this finding, the Sycamore Supreme Court ruled that X could not recover, and the court entered judgment in favor of Y and against X. The judgment has been affirmed on appeal and is now final. Assume further that X now brings a product liability case against Z for injuries in the hang glider accident. Z's position is (first) that the issue, whether X was operating the hang glider so as to create an open and obvious danger, was determined against X in X's prior case against Y, and (second) that that determination is binding on X in X's subsequent case against Z. X's position is that he is free to relitigate in his case against Z the question whether X was in fact operating the hang glider so as to create an open and obvious danger. What are the best arguments on both sides? Who should win? Why?
Part Five
Assume the following only for this Part. X sues only Y in X's product liability case and Z does not wish to be a party in the case. Y impleads Z. Z does not object to impleader. X does not amend to add a claim against Z. At trial, Z works with Y to attempt to prove the X was operating the hang glider to as to create an open and obvious danger. After trial, the jury found that X was operating the hang glider so as to create an open and obvious danger. On the basis of this finding, the Sycamore Supreme Court ruled that X could not recover, and the court entered judgment in favor of Y and against X. The judgment has been affirmed on appeal and is now final. Assume further that X now brings a product liability case against Z for injuries in the hang glider accident. Z's position is (first) that the issue, whether X was operating the hang glider so as to create an open and obvious danger, was determined against X in X's prior case against Y, and (second) that that determination is binding on X in X's subsequent case against Z. X's position is that he is free to relitigate in his case against Z the question whether X was in fact operating the hang glider so as to create an open and obvious danger. What are the best arguments on both sides? Who should win? Why?
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