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Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc.

Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc.
Seal of the United States Supreme Court.svg
Argued November 3, 2010
Decided February 23, 2011
Full case name Delbert Williamson, et al., Petitioners v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc., et al.
Docket nos. 08-1314
Citations 562 U.S. 323 (more)
131 S. Ct. 1131; 179 L. Ed. 2d 75; 78 U.S.L.W. 3687
Prior history dismissed (S.C.O.C 2008), affirmed (C.C.A. 2009), reversed 562 U.S. 323 (2011)
Holding
FMVSS 208 does not pre-empt state tort suits claiming that manufacturers should have installed lap-and-shoulder belts, instead of lap belts, on rear inner seats.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John G. Roberts
Associate Justices
Antonin Scalia · Anthony Kennedy
Clarence Thomas · Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Stephen Breyer · Samuel Alito
Sonia Sotomayor · Elena Kagan
Case opinions
Majority Breyer, joined by Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Alito, Sotomayor
Concurrence Sotomayor
Concurrence Thomas (in judgment)
Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
Laws applied
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, Inc., 562 U.S. 323 (2011), was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States, in which the Court unanimously held that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, does not federally preempt state tort lawsuits against auto manufacturers from injuries caused by a defective lack of certain types of seat belts.

The case arose when Thanh Williamson died in a 2002 auto accident from seat-belt related injuries. Williamson's family filed suit against Mazda Motor of America in California state court, claiming a defective design leading to a wrongful death. However, the California trial court dismissed the suit on the pleadings, agreeing with Mazda that the action was preempted by federal law, and the California Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal. The California Supreme Court declined to review the case, but the U.S. Supreme Court accepted the Williamson's petition for certiorari.

In a unanimous decision handed down on February 23, 2011, the Court unanimously (8-0, with Justice Elena Kagan not taking part in this case) reversed the California courts and held that federal preemption does not apply. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the decision of the court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a concurring opinion, and Justice Clarence Thomas wrote an opinion concurring in the judgment.


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