Holpainen v. American Motors Corp.

Plaintiffs Julia Holpainen and Beatrice Bousse appeal from a directed verdict in favor of defendant American Motors Corporation. The initial action was brought to recover damages to their automobile resulting from a fire.

In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged that defendant was careless, reckless, and negligent in the manufacture of the automobile and a spark from defective ignition wiring ignited gasoline in the flooded carburetor, which in turn caused the fire. At the time of the particular incident, the automobile in question registered slightly over 1,000 miles. In addition to the above…