Pursuant to a grant of rehearing dated March 15, 1978, we are persuaded, albeit reluctantly, that, adhering to our previous decisions that Alabama law аpplies in this case, we must reverse and remand for trial on Count IV of plaintiff’s complaint alleging strict liability in tort under 2 Restatement Torts, 2d, § 402A, pp 347-348, becаuse that issue has been properly preserved by plaintiff’s presentation and representation of same both to the lower court and to this Court.
*3
We reiterate the finding expressed in our order of March 15, 1978, that under the Alabama cases of
Casrell v Altec Industries, Inc,
335 So 2d 128 (Ala, 1976), and
Trimble v Bramco Products, Inc,
351 So 2d 1357 (Ala, 1977), the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that the cause of action outlined at Count IV of plaintiff’s complaint designated "Strict Liability in Tort” under 2 Restatement Torts, 2d, § 402A, pp 347-348, is a viable cause of action in Alabama and is retroactive to all cases in which the doctrine was pleaded prior to its adoption. The issue before us then is whether the doctrine of "law of the case” bars this Court from ruling at this time that the trial court erred in ordering Count IV stricken from plaintiff’s complaint. The matter was presented to this Court in its prior decisions in this case at
We hold that this Court has not rulеd on the issue of the viability of the strict liability theory in Alabama at any time and that said issue has been properly preserved and if this issue were to be decided by an Alabama court vested with proper jurisdiction, that court would be required to rule that the issue of strict liability under the Restatement of Torts, 2d, § 402A, being retroactive to all cases in which properly pleaded, should have been submitted to the jury.
The references to the strict liability theory at
Because of the impact on the conflict of laws issue of
lex loci delicti
raised by the Supreme Court’s decision in
Sweeney v Sweeney,
Reversed and remanded for trial on the strict liability of tort issue аs interpreted by the Alabama Supreme Court.
Appendix
Per Curiam. In this products liability case, plaintiff appeals as of right a lower court judgment, dated December 18, 1975, on a jury verdict of no cause for action against plaintiff following a six-day jury trial.
The basis for the litigation occurred on October 4, 1963, in Mobilе, Alabama. On that date, while operating a forklift manufactured by defendant, plaintiff was severely injured and subsequently rendered a quadriplegic by virtue оf injuries which he received when a 300-pound bale of cardboard boxes fell upon him while in the employ of the International Paper Company. As his primary claim of error, plaintiff here argues that he should be granted a new trial for the reason that the lower court impermissibly determined that the substantive rights and liabilities of the respective parties should be governed by the application of Alabama law. In so claiming, plaintiff asserts twо arguments: First: that the lex loci delicti of a products liability claim on the theory of negligent design is the state in which the injury-causing product is manufactured, and second: that, in any event, the application of Alabama law in the in *5 stant case impermissibly contravenes the public policy of this state.
Under his conflicts argument, plaintiff initially asserts that the well-established
lex loci delicti
rule does not necessarily mandate that Alabama law be applied. Plaintiff asserts that the "wrong”
(i.e.,
thе manufacture of the instant forklift) in the instant case occurred in Michigan. In the area of tort liability generally, and product liability particularly, most jurisdictions have answered "choice-of-law problems by ruling that the governing substantive law is the law of the place of the wrong, the lex loci delicti”. 2 Hursh & Bаiley, American Law of Products Liability 2d, § 15.5, p 621. See also 3 Frumer & Friedman, Products Liability, § 37.03, pp 11-10 to 11-21; Anno:
What law governs liability of manufacturer or seller for injury caused by product sold,
76 ALR2d 130; and Anno:
Modern status of rule that substantive rights of parties to a tort action are governed by the law of the place of the wrong,
29 ALR3d 603. Michigan is one such jurisdiction.
Abendschein v Farrell,
*6 that the "place of the wrong” in products cases is the place where the product was defectively manufactured. In discussing the treatment which most jurisdictions have given tо that problem, the authors in 2 Hursh & Bailey, American Law of Products Liability 2d, § 15:6, p 624, state:
”In most instances, in applying the rule that the substantive law of the place of the wrong gоverns the liability for negligence of the manufacturer or seller of an injury-causing product, the place of the wrong has been considered tо be the place where the injury for which recovery is sought is sustained. This is the rule of the Restatement of Conflict of Laws, and there is considerable decisional authority in accord.” (Emphasis supplied, footnotes omitted.)
As defendant properly notes, Michigan is one such jurisdiction which acknowledges that the "place of the wrong” is the place of the injury. Abendschein v Farrell, supra, Kaiser v North, supra, Sweeney v Sweeney, supra, Pusquilian v Cedar Point, Inc, supra. In so stating, the Pusquilian Court concluded:
"Michigan law is well settled. Liability for an alleged tort is governed by the substantive law of the place of injury.”41 Mich App at 401 .
We find no error.
Plaintiff next urges that Alabama lаw should not be applied because it contravenes the public policy of this state. Most jurisdictions, including Michigan, recognize the rule that the
lex loci
рrinciple will not be applied in those instances where the application and enforcement of such foreign laws would entail the contravention of established forum public policy to the contrary,
Lieberthal v Glens Falls Indemnity Co,
"[B]efore the court of any State is justified in refusing to enforce a right of action accruing under the laws of any other State or country, it must appear that such right is against good morals or natural justice, or that for some other reason an enforcemеnt of it would be prejudicial to the general interest of the citizens of the State of the forum, and that it does not follow that, because the statute differs from the law of the forum, it is contrary to the public policy of the State, within the meaning of this rule.”276 Mich at 541 .
For an extended discussion of the "public poliсy” limitation which some courts have used to avoid the application of foreign jurisdictions’ laws, see Goodrich & Scoles, Conflict of Laws (4th ed), § 11, p 14 et seq., 16 Am Jur 2d, Conflict of Laws, § 74, p 118 et seq., 15A CJS, Conflict of Laws, § 4(4), p 393 et seq., and 29 ALR3d 603, § 4(a), p 617 et seq.
Plaintiff argues that Michigan has a рublic policy of protecting "all who buy or use products manufactured and sold in Michigan”. Plaintiff herein was neither a resident of Michigan nor was he injurеd in this state. We are not persuaded that Michigan public policy requires such an expansive interpretation. We see little Michigan interest in securing tort damage awards to persons so situated. Absent a legitimate government interest to support it, there is no reason to presume the existence of a policy compelling application of Michigan law. Because we find no foundation for the policy advanced by plaintiff, we conclude that this policy does not support application of Michigan law in this case.
Affirmed.