Cruz v. DaimlerChrysler Motors Corp.
Supreme Court of Rhode Island
66 A.3d 446 (R.I. 2013)
Relevant factsFree
Three years after buying a used car from Ricky Smith dealership (defendant), Cruz (plaintiff) was injured when the airbags spontaneously deployed while he was cleaning the vehicle; lacking any direct evidence of negligence, Cruz relied on res ipsa loquitur, and the trial judge granted the dealership summary judgment.
IssueFree
Whether an inference of negligence is permitted when other responsible causes are not sufficiently eliminated by the evidence and the inferred negligence is not within the scope of the defendant's duty to the plaintiff.