Wilson v. Piper Aircraft Corp.

In our original opinion in this products liability case we held that a prima facie case of design defect must include evidence which would permit a finding that a safer design would have been practicable. We pointed out that we had not found any cases in which this aspect of plaintiffs’ prima facie case had been carefully considered. Plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing brings to our attention a recent decision of the California Supreme Court which holds that a plaintiff’s case is sufficient if it shows an injury caused by the defendant’s design. Defendant then has the burden of proving that…