Andrews v. United Airlines case brief

Andrews v. United Airlines case brief summary
24 F.3d 39 (9th Cir. 1994)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Plaintiff passenger challenged a judgment from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California that granted defendant airline's motion for summary judgment in a suit in plaintiff alleged she sustained personal injuries when a briefcase fell from an airplane's overhead compartment.

CASE FACTS
Plaintiff passenger was injured when a briefcase fell out of an overhead compartment in one of defendant airline's planes and landed on her. In her negligence suit, the trial court granted defendant's motion for summary judgment.


DISCUSSION

• On appeal, the court reversed the judgment. 
• The court ruled that based upon plaintiff's evidence, defendant had received numerous complaints about objects falling from the overhead compartments, and a genuine issue of material fact existed on whether defendant had a duty to do more than merely warn its passengers about the dangers of such falling objects. 
• The court reasoned that given its prior notice of the falling objects, coupled with increased carry-on luggage, the issue of whether defendant took sufficient precautions in discharging its duty as a common carrier to protect its passengers warranted a trial.

CONCLUSION

The court reversed a judgment that granted defendant airline summary judgment in plaintiff passenger's personal injury suit. A genuine issue of material fact existed on whether defendant had a duty to do more than merely warn passengers, such as plaintiff, about the possibility of items falling from overhead compartments.

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