Stahlecker v. Ford Motor Company
Nebraska Supreme Court
667 N.W.2d 244 (2003)
Relevant factsFree
After a defective Firestone tire on Amy Stahlecker's Ford Explorer blew out, stranding her alone in a remote area, Cook (defendant) encountered and murdered her; her parents (plaintiffs) sued Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone (defendants) for wrongful death, alleging the manufacturers knew or should have known about both the tire defect and the general risk of criminal activity against stranded motorists, and the district court sustained the manufacturers' demurrers.
IssueFree
Whether a vehicle manufacturer or tire manufacturer owes a duty to protect a consumer from criminal activity at the scene of a product failure where the product itself does not cause the consumer's injury.