Christine Mahne v. Ford Motor Company Donald Petersen and Harold MacDonald

RYAN, Circuit Judge.

This case presents a choice of law problem well-suited for a law school civil procedure examination. It requires us to decide whether Michigan or Florida law governs the plaintiff’s product liability action. We conclude that Michigan law controls and, therefore, reverse the judgment of the district court.

I

On April 16, 1985, Mario Mahne, a Florida resident, was a passenger in a 1967 Ford Mustang that was rear-ended by another vehicle and burst into flames. The accident occurred in Florida. As a result of the accident, Miss Mahne, then 15 years old, was severely burned. Her…