WRITING ASSIGNMENT *(Tort Law Question)

OBJECTIVE
Students will recognize particular legal issues inhering to a given case scenario and determine which laws come to bear on the issues towards arriving at a resolution of those issues.

ASSIGNMENT
Two eight-year boys were seriously injured when riding Honda mini trail bikes provided by their parents. The boys were riding on public streets and ran a stop sign when they were hit by a truck. One boy was not wearing a helmet. The bikes had clear warning labels on the front stating that they were only for off road use. The owner’s manual was clear that the bikes were not to be used on public streets and that riders should wear helmets. The parents sued Honda.

The supreme court of Washington said that there was one basic issue. “Is a manufacturer liable when children are injured while riding one of its mini trail bikes on a public road in violation of manufacturer and parental warnings?” Is it unethical to make products like mini trail bikes that will be used by children, when we know some accidents like this will happen? Please answer the questions below. One page is required.

Is the manufacturer liable in the scenario given, when the children were injured while riding one of its mini trail bikes, on a public road, in violation of manufacturer and parental warnings? Explain.
Is it unethical to make products like mini trail bikes that will be used by children, when the manufacturer knows accidents like this will happen? Explain