Willard v. Caterpillar, Inc.
California Court of Appeal
[Opinion certified for partial publication.*]
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion
THAXTER, Acting P. J .
This products liability case requires our consideration of the evolving tort of intentional spoliation of evidence. Balancing relevant factors, we will hold that the trial court erred in submitting to the jury a cause of action for intentional spoliation of a manufacturer’s design documents, when the destruction occurred before the plaintiff’s injury and after the product had been on the market and in use for nearly 25 years with a negligible history of accidents similar to the plaintiff’s.
Procedural History
Blaine Willard (Willard or plaintiff) sustained serious…
2Cases cited45 opinions
- Tarasoff v. Regents of University of CaliforniaCalifornia Supreme Court · 1976
- Barker v. Lull Engineering Co.California Supreme Court · 1978
- Bily v. Arthur Young & Co.California Supreme Court · 1992
- Cole v. Fair Oaks Fire Protection DistrictCalifornia Supreme Court · 1987
- Della Penna v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.California Supreme Court · 1995
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- Bed, Bath & Beyond of La Jolla, Inc. v. La Jolla Village Square Venture PartnersCalifornia Court of Appeal · 1997
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