American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Co. v. General Motors Corp.

LINDSAY, Judge.

The defendant, General Motors Corporation, appeals a jury verdict and trial court judgment finding that a defect in a General Motors vehicle caused a fire which destroyed the vehicle and extensively damaged the house where the vehicle was parked. We affirm the trial court judgment.

FACTS

In June, 1983, Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Riels purchased a 1983 Oldsmobile Eighty-eight, manufactured by General Motors Corporation (GM). On the evening of September 23, 1984, the Riels drove the car to a local parish fair. When they returned home between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m., the vehicle was parked…