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SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA
OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011

1091386 W e s l e y F r y e , as p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e e s t a t e o f Rhonda R a i n e y , d e c e a s e d ; and R o d e r i c k S t a c y A r t h u r , as t h e f a t h e r and n e x t f r i e n d o f Ryan A r t h u r and R o d e r i c k A r t h u r , minors v. John F . Smith, Appeal Harry J . Pearce, and M i c h a e l Court Losh

from Calhoun C i r c u i t (CV-08-900205)

COBB, C h i e f

Justice. as p e r s o n a l representative Stacy of theestate of Arthur, as f a t h e r minors

Wesley Frye,

Rhonda R a i n e y , d e c e a s e d , and R o d e r i c k and next friend o f Ryan Arthur

and Roderick

Arthur,

1091386 ( c o l l e c t i v e l y , "the p l a i n t i f f s " ) , Calhoun Smith, Circuit appeal from the order of the c l a i m s a g a i n s t John based on F. a

Court d i s m i s s i n g t h e i r J. Pearce, and The

J r . , Harry

J. Michael Losh plaintiffs also

l a c k of p e r s o n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n . the order of the Calhoun supplement the r e c o r d on Circuit

challenge to

Court denying t h e i r motion We affirm.

appeal. Facts

On

or

about

June

19,

2006,

Rhonda

Rainey

and

minors

R o d e r i c k A r t h u r a n d R y a n A r t h u r w e r e i n v o l v e d i n an a c c i d e n t w h i l e t h e y were p a s s e n g e r s sport-utility Rhonda's vehicle and being i n a 1998 by and

automobile

Chevrolet Blazer Rainey,

driven

Christopher Ryan's

husband

Roderick's

stepfather. of the

R o d e r i c k and Ryan were i n j u r e d , injuries s u s t a i n e d i n the filed a

and R a i n e y d i e d as a r e s u l t On June 17, 2008,

accident. in the

plaintiffs naming as

complaint General Blazer, sold

Calhoun

Circuit

Court the

defendants of the who

Motors and the

C o r p o r a t i o n ("GM"),

manufacturer Inc., the

Massey Raineys

Chevrolet-Olds-Geo, the Blazer. The and

dealer sought

plaintiffs

damages f o r w r o n g f u l d e a t h

as t o R h o n d a

for personal injuries

as t o R o d e r i c k a n d R y a n , a l l e g i n g c l a i m s of w a r r a n t y , as w e l l as c l a i m s u n d e r

o f n e g l i g e n c e and b r e a c h

2

1091386 the Alabama Extended Manufacturer's L i a b i l i t y D o c t r i n e ("the

AEMLD"). On J u n e 1 2 , 2 0 0 9 , GM United States Bankruptcy filed Court a notice of bankruptcy i n the of

f o r the Southern stay

District

New Y o r k ,

thereby invoking

the automatic

codified

a t 11

U.S.C.

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