Genie Industries, Inc. v. Matak
Supreme Court of Texas
462 S.W.3d 1 (2015)
Matak (plaintiff's decedent) was killed when a lightweight Genie (defendant) aerial lift tipped over after he and a coworker began releasing its stabilizing outriggers and moving it while Matak remained elevated 40 feet up, despite warning signs against releasing outriggers with the platform raised. Matak's estate sued for wrongful death based on a design defect, and at trial its expert proposed three alternative designs (an automatic drop-down function, pothole protection, and a chain-and-padlock feature) plus a suggested blocking mechanism; a jury found for the estate, the appellate court affirmed, and the Texas Supreme Court granted review.
Whether a product manufacturer is liable for a design defect if no safer alternative design exists and the defect at issue did not render the product unreasonably dangerous.