On September 12, 2019, after a three week bench trial in San Mateo County, and submission of multiple closing briefs, MG+M obtained a complete defense verdict in a product liability and personal injury action for its client, a manufacturer of recreational vehicles. The decision came after four days of trial cross examination of the plaintiff’s causation expert; the court did not find the expert to be credible.
Plaintiff claimed debilitating injuries from an RV fire, alleging that his RV spontaneously burst into flames while being driven down the highway. Multiple expert witnesses for the plaintiff opined that the refrigerator installed in the RV contained a defect that caused it to overheat, causing an explosion and then a fire within the RV. Defendant’s position was that origin of the fire could not be established because plaintiff had not conducted a proper investigation, pursuant to the National Fire Protection Association Standards. After a three week trial, during which lead trial counsel David Glaspy cross examined plaintiff’s “origin and fire” expert for a total of four days, MG+M persuaded the court that plaintiff had not met his burden of proof in establishing the origin of the fire. The court entered a judgment, including costs, in favor of MG+M’s client, the sole defendant at trial.
MG+M partners David Glaspy and Carrie Lin tried the case. Plaintiff was represented by the law firm of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. Judge Raymond V. Swope of the San Mateo Superior Court presided over the trial.