Hinckley v. La Mesa R. V. Center, Inc

In Hinckley v. La Mesa R. V. Center, Inc. (1984) 158 Cal. App. 3d 630, the plaintiffs purchased a motor home on August 4, 1976. in October of that year, one of the plaintiffs noticed smoke filling the vehicle's cockpit but succeeded in putting out the fire. The motor home was taken to the dealer for repairs and returned to the plaintiff in November 1976. About eight months later, the vehicle caught fire while in motion and one of the plaintiffs sustained injuries while jumping from the cab. Reversing a nonsuit for the defendants, the court observed that the plaintiffs "did not tinker with the engine, or the vehicle's wiring, hoses, or battery, at any time after the motor home's purchase, beyond routine inspections for confused wiring, leaking oil and leaking hydraulic fluid. . . . Thus, the jury could find defendants were solely responsible for any negligent wiring of the motor home. Thus, the second condition . . . was satisfied, at least to the extent of presenting a question to be resolved by the jury." (Id. at p. 641.)