Fla. Court Vacates $14 Million Verdict, Remands for New Trial on Warning Defect Claims

MIAMI –– A Florida appellate court has vacated a $14 million verdict entered in a case against Union Carbide, saying that the trial court erred when it refused to include reference to the component parts doctrine in the jury instructions. Union Carbide Corp. v. Aubin, No. 3D10-1982 (Fla. 3rd Dist. Ct. App.).

In the June 20 opinion reversing the verdict in part and remanding for a new trial, the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeals said that the trial court should have applied the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Products Liability to the claims, instead of the Second Restatement.

William …