Leichtamer v. American Motors Corp.

The Leichtamers (plaintiffs) were severely injured, and the driver of their friend's Jeep CJ-7 was killed, when the vehicle flipped during an off-road recreational run and its roll bar collapsed; they sued American Motors and Jeep (defendants) in strict liability, arguing the CJ-7's roll bar design enhanced their injuries even though the driver's negligence caused the initial rollover. They presented evidence that Jeep had advertised the CJ-7 as an off-road vehicle (increasing the likelihood of this kind of accident) and that the collapsed roll bar substantially worsened their injuries; the jury found for the Leichtamers, and Jeep appealed, arguing strict liability shouldn't apply to claims that a design defect merely enhanced (rather than caused) a plaintiff's injuries.