Cessna Aircraft Co. v. Trzcinski

Cessna Aircraft Company appeals from a judgment entered by the Montgomery County Circuit Court on a jury verdict in Robert Trzcinski's action for damages under the Alabama Extended Manufacturer's Liability Doctrine (AEMLD). The jury awarded Trzcinski $2.5 million in compensatory damages for the injuries he suffered and the medical expenses he incurred in an airplane crash. The jury also awarded $500,000 in punitive damages for Cessna's alleged wanton misconduct. The issue is whether Trzcinski met his burden of proving wanton misconduct by Cessna.

Trzcinski, a pilot with nearly 40 years'…