Alami v. Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Court of Appeals of New York
766 N.E.2d 574 (2002)
Relevant factsFree
Alami died in a car crash while driving legally intoxicated; his wife (plaintiff), suing Volkswagen (defendant), claimed a design defect in the car enhanced his injuries beyond what a properly designed vehicle would have caused. The trial court and appellate division granted Volkswagen summary judgment on the theory that Alami's serious violation of drunk-driving laws directly caused his injuries, barring any recovery under prior precedent.
IssueFree
Whether a plaintiff may impose a duty on a defendant that arises out of the plaintiff's own illegal act.