U.S. Supreme Court Opens Automakers to Seatbelt Lawsuits
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The U.S. Supreme Court opened the auto industry to new lawsuits over seatbelt design, ruling that a Mazda Motor Corp. unit must defend against claims pressed by the family of a woman killed while riding in the back of a minivan.
The justices today said that automakers can be sued for not equipping seats with a shoulder strap, ruling that companies aren’t immunized by a federal regulation that allowed lap-only belts in some rear seats prior to 2007. The unanimous ruling said regulators intended to set only a minimum standard.