Boyer v. Iowa High School Athletic Association

Boyer (plaintiff) was sitting in foldable bleachers at a basketball game managed by the Iowa High School Athletic Association (defendant) when the bleachers suddenly folded against the wall as spectators were leaving, causing her to fall nine feet to the floor. Boyer sued under res ipsa loquitur, since she couldn't point to the exact mechanical cause of the collapse. The trial court let the jury decide the issue, and the jury found for Boyer; the association appealed, arguing the case should never have gone to the jury.

Whether a plaintiff may establish negligence liability under res ipsa loquitur when it is not possible to identify the exact cause of the injury.