Koch v. City of Seattle

— Plaintiffs Koch sued the City of Seattle and Ford Motor Company alleging the negligence of each defendant proximately caused plaintiffs’ injuries. The sole question on appeal is whether in such a case the manufacturer of a vehicle, a defect in which is the sole cause of plaintiffs’ injuries, must pay the reasonable defense costs and expenses of the innocent purchaser of that vehicle who is joined as a codefendant. The trial court ruled against such recovery. We reverse.

Plaintiffs Koch sued defendants City of Seattle and Ford Motor Company for damages resulting from the city’s operation of a…