Bill Burdett authored the chapter, “Constitutional Law and the Automobile,” in Landmarks in American Automotive Law: Legal Experts Examine 25 Influential Cases.

The book explores the landmark legal cases that have shaped the modern automotive industry, including a wide range of pivotal issues, from product liability and antitrust to corporate governance and employment law. Among the cases presented by legal experts are MacPherson v. Buick, which established the principle of product liability without the need for contractual privity, and the infamous Ford Pinto litigation, which highlighted corporate negligence and product liability.

The book also covers antitrust violations such as the Auto-Parts Cartel, governance disputes like Dodge v. Ford Motor Company, and contemporary challenges relating to vehicle cybersecurity and the legal classification of ridesharing drivers.

Each case study includes its impact on the industry as well as its broader legal implications, offering insights into automotive law for practitioners, scholars and general readers hoping to gain a deeper understanding of how law has defined the automotive world.

April 25, 2026