Modern Negligence & Products

Question 1

Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (Cal. 1944) — why famous?

Accepted Answer

Justice Traynor's concurrence argued that manufacturers should be strictly liable for defective products — adopted later in Greenman. (Source: Escola v. Coca Cola Bottling Co., 24 Cal. 2d 453 (1944))

Question 2

Rowland v. Christian (Cal. 1968) — held?

Accepted Answer

Abolished the invitee/licensee/trespasser categories for landowner liability in favour of ordinary reasonable care. (Source: Rowland v. Christian, 69 Cal. 2d 108 (1968))

Question 3

Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (Cal. 1975) — held?

Accepted Answer

Replaced contributory negligence (a complete bar) with pure comparative negligence. (Source: Li v. Yellow Cab Co., 13 Cal. 3d 804 (1975))

Question 4

Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories (Cal. 1980) — doctrine?

Accepted Answer

Market share liability: where the specific DES manufacturer could not be identified, defendants were liable in proportion to their share of the market. (Source: Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories, 26 Cal. 3d 588 (1980))

Question 5

Dillon v. Legg (Cal. 1968) — held?

Accepted Answer

A mother who witnessed her child's death could recover for emotional distress as a bystander, even though outside the zone of danger. (Source: Dillon v. Legg, 68 Cal. 2d 728 (1968))

1.Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (Cal. 1944) — why famous?

2.Rowland v. Christian (Cal. 1968) — held?

3.Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (Cal. 1975) — held?

4.Sindell v. Abbott Laboratories (Cal. 1980) — doctrine?

5.Dillon v. Legg (Cal. 1968) — held?