Superior Court Addresses Crashworthiness Doctrine

In its non-precedential decision in the case of Amagasu v. Fred Beans Family of Dealerships, No. 1594 EDA 2024 (Pa. Super. Dec. 22, 2025 Olson, J., Dubow, J., and Beck, J.) (Op. by Olson, J.), the Pennsylvania Superior Court vacated a one billion dollar jury verdict in favor of the Plaintiffs in a products liability case.

According to the Opinion, this case arose out of a motor vehicle accident. In this product liability case against Mitsubishi, the Plaintiffs allege, in part, that the seat belt system and the low roof configuration of the vehicle, and other related structures were defective.

In its Opinion, the Pennsylvania Superior Court held, in part, that the trial court had erroneously instructed the jurors to apply a wrong legal standard, resulting in a verdict that was reached by the jury under an improperly reduced burden of proof.

The Superior Court noted that the jurors at the trial should have been instructed to apply the “crashworthiness” doctrine. This standard holds a vehicle manufacturer liable for injuries caused by design defects in their vehicles during accidents.

In this matter, the jurors were instead instructed to apply a general strict liability standard which had a lower burden of proof.

Accordingly, the Superior Court agreed with the defense argument that the trial court abused its discretion in electing to given only a traditional Section 402A strict products liability instruction.

Anyone wishing to review a copy of this non-precedential decision may click this LINK.

I send thanks to Attorney Kenneth T. Newman of the Pittsburgh office of the Thomas Thomas & & Hafer, LLP law firm for bringing this case to my attention.