Corina Mendoza, Petitioner v. Wis International, Inc., Anthony Adams, and Washington Inventory Services, Inc…

Summary

The court held that Arkansas Code Annotated section 27-37-703 is unconstitutional because it legislatively dictates the admissibility of seat-belt-nonuse evidence, a procedural matter within the Supreme Court's exclusive rulemaking authority. The court concluded that the statute therefore violates separation of powers under the Arkansas Constitution and answered the certified question affirmatively. Justices Baker, Hart, and Wood, dissenting, would have declined to answer or would have upheld the statute as substantive legislation.