Zacher v. Robinson Helicopter Co. CA2/4
Plaintiff Vickie L. Zacher appeals from a judgment of dismissal following the sustaining of a demurrer to her wrongful death action and the voluntary dismissal of her remaining personal injury claims. The wrongful death action was brought against defendant Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc. (Robinson) and others for the death of John Zacher, Vickie’s husband, in a helicopter crash. The helicopter -- which Vickie alleged was defective -- had been manufactured and sold by Robinson in California, but the crash occurred in Minnesota. John and Vickie were residents of Minnesota at the time of the crash. Applying the Minnesota statute governing wrongful death actions in accordance with California’s so-called “borrowing statute” (Code Civ. Proc., § 361), which provides that when a cause of action arises in another state California courts must apply the limitation laws of that state, the trial court found that Vickie’s wrongful death action was time-barred.
Comments on Zacher v. Robinson Helicopter Co. CA2/4