Adams v. Ford Motor Co.

California Court of Appeal

132 Cal. Rptr. 3d 424 (2011)

Relevant factsFree

Richard Adams and his family (plaintiffs) sued Ford and other manufacturers for asbestos exposure from brake pads. Ford made a $10,000 settlement offer under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998, which the plaintiffs rejected. The jury found Ford not liable, and Ford sought to recover its costs-including expert-witness fees-under section 998.

IssueFree

Whether an offer to compromise under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998 must be reasonable and made in good faith to trigger its cost-shifting consequences.

Holding & reasoning

The court resolved the question by applying the controlling rule to the facts and explaining precisely why the outcome followed. Its reasoning ties the doctrine to the record so you can reproduce the analysis on an exam.

Procedural history, concurrence & dissent

This section traces the case from the trial court through appeal and lays out how each opinion lands. Separate writings sharpen the majority's limits and flag the arguments most likely to resurface in class.

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