Melissa Dorman Matthews, a member at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, successfully defended three entities in a product liability case in Nueces County, Texas.
The Texas Supreme Court issued a per curiam opinion on June 20, 2025 dismissing Korean fuel pump manufacturer Hyundam Industrial Co., Ltd., from a case pending in Nueces County, Texas.
The underlying facts are tragic; a young mother was driving a Hyundai sedan on a freeway in Corpus Christi, Texas, when her vehicle stopped for an unknown reason. Her vehicle was struck by a pickup traveling at highway speeds. The driver was incapacitated and now has a life care plan of over $20 million. Plaintiffs claimed the fuel pump, manufactured by Hyundam Industrial Co., Ltd., failed and caused the Hyundai vehicle to lose power.
Melissa filed Special Appearances contesting jurisdiction for Aisan Industry Company Ltd., a Japanese entity, and Hyundam America, Inc., which were granted by the trial court in 2021. The trial court denied Hyundam Industrial Co., Ltd.’s Special Appearance, which denial was affirmed by the 13th Court of Appeals.
The Texas Supreme Court, without hearing oral argument, granted Hyundam Industrial Company, Ltd.’s Petition for Review, reversed the judgment of the Court of Appeals, and rendered judgment dismissing Hyundam.
The Texas Supreme Court’s decision was the trifecta Melissa had sought since 2020, when her three clients were joined as defendants.