Marriott International v. Prolink
Between June 12 and 14, 2001, defendant Prolink, Inc. (Prolink) installed new global positioning system (GPS) units in golf carts belonging to plaintiff Marriott International, Inc. (Marriott). The units were powered by the golf carts batteries. On June 15, 2001, the carts, along with the cart barn in which they were parked and recharged overnight, were totally destroyed in a fire. According to Prolinks expert witness, the cause of the fire could not be determined. According to Marriotts expert witnesses, on the other hand, the fire was electrical in origin; it was caused by wiring with nicked or otherwise compromised insulation; it started roughly where a golf cart known to have a malfunctioning GPS unit had been parked; it most likely started in the battery compartment of a golf cart; and it did not start in any of the other wiring or equipment in the cart barn. None of Marriotts experts, however, took the further step of opining that it was more likely than not that Prolink caused the fire. In this action, a jury found that Prolink negligently caused the fire and awarded over $900,000 in damages. Prolink appeals, arguing that there was insufficient evidence that it actually caused the fire. Court disagree. Court will hold that, from the evidence, and particularly from the testimony of the expert witnesses, lay jurors could reasonably infer that a Prolink installer did, in fact, cause the fire. Hence, Court affirm.
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