O'DOWD v. General Motors Corp.

The question presented is whether an automobile manufacturer, subject to liability to the personal representative of the estate of a person killed in an automobile accident pursuant to the wrongful death act, 1 and a purveyor of intoxicating liquor, subject to liability under the dramshop act 2 to the wife and child of the deceased for providing liquor to the deceased, are "jointly or severally liable in tort for the same injury to a person or property or for the same wrongful death” for purposes of § 1 of the contribution statute. 3 We hold that they are where the wrongful death action is…