Brown V. Yamaha Motor Corp‪.‬

Respondents Thomas A. Brown, as guardian ad litem, and Geri F. Peterson, individually, brought this action claiming damages for injuries sustained by Shawn P. Hejna, age 15, while riding a Yamaha motorcycle. Their claim was based on strict liability and, in the alternative, negligence for Yamaha's failure to install a "kill switch" on the machine. A kill switch is a device that permits a rider to shut off the engine without letting go of the handlebars. The jury rejected strict liability but found negligence and rendered a $10 million verdict. It also found contributory negligence of 35 percent.*fn1 The trial court granted respondents' motion for judgment n.o.v. as to contributory negligence and entered judgment for the full