Morton v. Coli

**Morton v. Coli: Product Defect Victory** This case involved a worker who was injured when a defective steering part failed in his Ford Falcon automobile. The steering sector gear was faulty, causing an accident that resulted in personal injuries to the plaintiff. The worker sued Ford Motor Company, claiming the company was responsible for the defective part regardless of whether Ford was negligent in making it. The court ruled in favor of the injured worker, awarding him $325,000 in damages. The judge applied "strict liability" principles, meaning Ford was held responsible for the defective product even without proving the company was careless or knew about the problem. The court also found that Ford had breached its warranty obligations. When Ford appealed the decision, the court upheld the jury's verdict on all disputed issues. This ruling matters for workers because it demonstrates that companies can be held accountable for defective products that cause injuries, even when used outside the workplace. Workers don't need to prove a company was negligent—just that the product was defective and caused harm. This legal protection extends to any defective products workers encounter, whether company vehicles, tools, or equipment.