Honda of America Mfg., Inc. v. Norman

Karen drowned after accidentally driving her Honda (defendant) down a boat ramp and being unable to release her automatic shoulder seatbelt, which used a "mouse" mechanism with a release button positioned behind the driver's left shoulder (chosen partly to help third parties free a trapped driver, according to Honda's expert). Her representatives (plaintiffs, including Norman) sued for strict liability based on defective seatbelt design, proposing three alternatives — a timer-controlled mouse, a hip-level release button, and dual release buttons — with an expert testifying the timer design was technologically feasible and only briefly affirming economic feasibility, and another expert citing another manufacturer's use of a relocated button as evidence of economic feasibility; the jury found for Norman.