Stark, et al. v. Ford Motor Company

Case Updates

The North Carolina Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decision, and remanded the case for additional proceedings.

NCLC urged the North Carolina Supreme Court to hold that North Carolina law allows Ford to argue that a vehicle it sold was improperly altered after sale. In its brief, NCLC argued that North Carolina law clearly precludes product liability cases in which the product in question has been improperly used or altered, and that Ford should be able to raise this product alteration defense even if the party that altered the product is not before the court. NCLC warned that limiting manufacturers from using the product alteration defense will make North Carolina courts a premier destination for the trial bar.

NCLC urged the North Carolina Supreme Court to hold that North Carolina law allows Ford to argue that a vehicle it sold was improperly altered after sale. In its brief, NCLC argued that North Carolina law clearly precludes product liability cases in which the product in question has been improperly used or altered, and that Ford should be able to raise this product alteration defense even if the party that altered the product is not before the court. NCLC warned that limiting manufacturers from using the product alteration defense will make North Carolina courts a premier destination for the trial bar.