Pietrone v. American Honda Motor Co.
California Court of Appeal
189 Cal. App. 3d 1057 (1987)
Motorcycle passenger Pietrone (plaintiff) suffered a broken leg when a car hit her, and because she couldn't control the injured limb, her foot became caught in the motorcycle's exposed rear-wheel spokes and pinned until firefighters cut her free, ultimately requiring amputation below the knee; she sued manufacturer Honda (defendant), presenting evidence that the exposed-spoke design proximately caused her injury, and the trial court denied Honda's motion for a directed verdict after Honda argued she failed to present any alternative safer design.
Whether a products-liability plaintiff must present evidence of an alternate, safer design for the feature that caused her injury in order to establish a prima facie case.