Hanberry v. Hearst Corp.
Court of Appeal of California
276 Cal.App.2d 680 (1969)
Relevant factsFree
Hearst Corp. (defendant) gave its seal of approval to a pair of shoes, representing to the public that it had "superior knowledge and special information" supporting the endorsement. Hanberry (plaintiff) relied on that endorsement to buy the shoes and was subsequently injured because the shoes were defective and not as represented. The trial court dismissed Hanberry's complaint, and she appealed.
IssueFree
Whether a company that endorses a product may be liable to a purchaser who, relying on the endorsement, buys the product and is injured because it is defective and not as represented in the endorsement.