Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Little Rock Partner Haley Heath successfully defended a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer in a product liability action involving a hydraulic motor, securing dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction in Arkansas.
The case arose from a workplace accident in which a hydraulic motor was allegedly reinstalled incorrectly during maintenance, causing a fan to over-speed, rupture, and eject shrapnel that seriously injured two individuals. The plaintiff brought a product defect claim against GRSM’s client, the company that manufactured the motor and hoses, alleging liability for the incident. GRSM promptly challenged the suit by filing a motion to dismiss, arguing that the client, a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal place of business in North Carolina, lacked sufficient minimum contacts with Arkansas to justify the court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction.
The plaintiff relied on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 decision in Ford Motor Company v. Montana to support jurisdiction, arguing that because the client sold other products into Arkansas and knew its components could end up there, jurisdiction was proper. GRSM countered that the client had not marketed or sold the specific hydraulic motor at issue to Arkansas and thus could not be subject to specific jurisdiction in the state. The court agreed with GRSM’s reasoning and dismissed all claims against the client, rejecting the plaintiff’s jurisdictional theory.
This result highlights GRSM’s strategic litigation approach in complex product liability matters. GRSM’s Product Liability team is adept at defending manufacturers and suppliers in high-stakes injury claims. Our attorneys are well-positioned to serve as lead or local counsel in state and federal courts across the country.