Deborah J. Bauman (77-1459), Evan K. Johnston (77-1460) v. Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft and Volkswagen of America, Inc.

MERRITT, Circuit Judge.

In this diversity case, the defendants appeal from a jury verdict awarded to plaintiffs for injuries suffered in an automobile accident. The case, involving an allegedly defectively designed door latch on a 1971 Volkswagen Karman Ghia, went to the jury on three theories of product liability: (1) negligence, (2) strict liability and (3) breach of implied warranty for a particular purpose. The jury returned a general verdict in favor of plaintiffs awarding $500,000 to Deborah Bauman and $30,000 to Evan Johnston. We reverse the verdict and remand to the District Court for…