Caudle v. Patridge

Plaintiff Michael Carmen Caudle appeals from summary judgments in favor of defendants Bill Patridge, d/b/a Off-Road Birmingham, and Eastwood Ford, Inc., in his products liability suit against them.1 At issue is a "conversion kit" sold by Patridge, which was used to convert a 1973 Ford Courier truck from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive; the truck was later traded and Eastwood Ford subsequently sold the truck as modified. Caudle was severely injured when the truck flipped over while he was a passenger in it.

Michael McCullars initially purchased the truck in 1982 and spoke with Patridge, the…