Tomka v. Hoechst Celanese Corp.

TERNUS, Justice.

Plaintiff, Victor Tomka, sued defendant, Hoechst Celanese Corporation d/b/a Hoechst-Roussel Agri-Vet Co., a manufacturer of synthetic growth hormones. Tomka sought to recover damages he sustained when cattle he was custom feeding were implanted with a hormone manufactured by Hoechst.

The trial court granted Hoechst’s motion for directed verdict and the court of appeals affirmed. Both the trial court and the court of appeals held that Tomka could not recover economic losses in the absence of any damage to his property. Because Tomka did not own the cattle that were implanted,…