Dale,
Not being familiar with the case, I checked Findlaw
(findlaw.com) for a news story. I found a Reuters story from Aug. 9:
[08/09] GM seeks new trial in $4.9 billion case
LOS ANGELES, Aug 9 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. said on Monday it
asked a California judge for a new trial in the record $4.9 billion jury
award to six people burned in 1993 when their GM car exploded after being
hit by a drunk driver.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury ruled against the world's No. 1
automaker last month and granted the largest U.S. product liability award
ever to the family of Patricia Anderson.
This tells me that the case is, so far, just a jury verdict. There won't
be any written opinion in California Reports or the Pacific Reporter.
Those publications only pick up _appellate_ decisions, not trial-level
cases.
The jury just makes very simple findings -- e.g., that the
defendant is or is not liable and, if the defendant is liable, that the
damages equal $X.
At this stage, the news stories you have are probably your best source.
The judge *might* write an opinion explaining why he or she does or does
not grant the motion for a new trial. If so, you could probably get a copy
of that from the clerk of court.
If the new trial is denied, then GM will likely appeal. If so, then there
will eventually be a published opinion -- first from the California Court
of Appeals (published in California Appellate Reports 4th and in West's
California Reporter 2d) then, if the appeal goes higher, from the
California Supreme Court (published in California Reports 4th and in
West's California Reporter 2d and in West's Pacific Reporter 2d. It might
take years for the courts to decide the appeals.
I hope this helps.
-- Mary
__________________________________________________________
Mary Whisner, Assistant Librarian for Reference Services
Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
whisner@u.washington.edu library's website: http://lib.law.washington.edu
On Fri, 13 Aug 1999, Dale Colston wrote:
> Dear Colleagues:
>
> A patron would like to read the decision/opinion concerning the July 1999
> billion dollar settlement against GM. Los Angeles Superior Court? We have
> access to many newspaper and periodical articles, but not any California
> Reports or Pacific Reporters, etc.; Patron is seeking "official" materials.
> Is this published? In print only? Forthcoming? Downloadable?
>
> I thank you in advance.
>
> (Ms.) Dale Colston
> ===============
> Dale E. Colston, Esq. dcolston@npl.org
> Business, Science & Technology Center
> Newark Public Library
> 5 Washington Street, P.O. Box 630
> Newark, NJ 07101-0630
> voice (973)733-7779 FAX (973)733-5648
>
>
>
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