Bowersfield v. Suzuki Motor Corp.

MEMORANDUM

DUBOIS, District Judge.

I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of an automobile accident which occurred in the early morning hours of March 10, 1996 at the intersection of 7th and Spruce Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At that time, plaintiff, Thomas J. Bowersfield, Jr., and two companions were traveling west on Spruce Street in a 1992 Suzuki Samurai (the “Samurai”). Another vehicle traveling north on 7th Street collided with the Samurai and sped away.

The Samurai was designed and manufactured by defendant Suzuki Motor Corporation (“SMC”), a Japanese auto manufacturer. In the United…