Hyundai Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor America, Inc., Petitioners v. Victor Manuel Vasquez and Brenda Suarez Vasquez…

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to allow a voir dire question that sought to gauge jurors' views on the weight of the fact that the decedent was unbelted, and therefore reversed the Court of Appeals and remanded for further proceedings. The Court emphasized the broad discretion trial judges have in managing voir dire and distinguished bias inquiries from improper commitment questions. Justice MEDINA, joined by Justices WAINWRIGHT and JOHNSON, dissented, arguing that the trial court improperly foreclosed all seat‑belt related questioning and that the error was preserved.