Bruce v. Martin-Marietta Corp.
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
544 F.2d 442 (1976)
Relevant factsFree
A 1952-manufactured plane crashed in 1970, and loose seats blocked the exit, contributing to deaths and injuries; passengers (plaintiffs) sued the manufacturer, Martin (defendant), claiming the plane lacked seat fastenings used in planes made at the time of the crash. Martin showed the plane fully complied with federal aviation safety requirements as they existed when it was manufactured in 1952; the trial court granted Martin summary judgment, and the plaintiffs appealed.
IssueFree
Whether a manufacturer can be held liable, in negligence or strict liability, for failing to include safety features that did not exist or were not required at the time the product was manufactured.