Section 15.11 Definition of Defective Condition Unreasonably Dangerous

• Library: Tort Law 2016

b. (§15.11) Definition of Defective Condition Unreasonably Dangerous

In both strict liability and negligence, failure to prove that the product was defective is fatal to a plaintiff’s action. See, e.g.:

· Md. Cas. Co. v. Dondlinger & Sons Constr. Co., 420 F.2d 1368 (8^th Cir. 1970)

· Welsh v. Bowling Elec. Mach., Inc., 875 S.W.2d 569 (Mo. App. S.D. 1994) (discussing proof of defect in negligence and strict liability)

· Spuhl v. Shiley, Inc., 795 S.W.2d 573 (Mo. App. E.D. 1990) (same)

Moreover, the product must be defective when it leaves the manufacturer’s control. See, e.g., Williams v. Ford Motor Co., No. 1:12-CV-108 SNLJ, 2013 WL 3874751 (E.D. Mo. July 25, 2013), recognizing that:

plaintiffs have the burden of proof to show that "the product was defective at the time it entered into the stream of commerce and that neither [they] nor any third person has made alterations to the product that would create a defect that could be the proximate cause of the damages incurred"

Williams, 2013 WL 3874751, at *3 (quoting Boyer v. Bandag, Inc., 943 S.W.2d 760, 763 (Mo. App. E.D. 1997)); Gabler v. Robbins & Myers, Inc., 895 S.W.2d 79, 81 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995). A product defect can be any of the following:

· Design, see, e.g., Rodriguez v. Suzuki Motor Corp., 996 S.W.2d 47 (Mo. banc 1999); Nesselrode v. Exec. Beechcraft, Inc., 707 S.W.2d 371 (Mo. banc 1986) (design defect and failure to warn)

· Manufacture, see, e.g., Keener v. Dayton Elec. Mfg. Co., 445 S.W.2d 362 (Mo. 1969); Richcreek v. Gen. Motors Corp., 908 S.W.2d 772 (Mo. App. W.D. 1995) (discussing the fine line between manufacturing and design defect)

· Component materials, see, e.g., Welsh, 875 S.W.2d 569; see also Lindsay v. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corp., 460 F.2d 631, 637 (8^th Cir. 1972); Sperry v. Bauermeister, Inc., 804 F. Supp. 1134 (E.D. Mo. 1992)

· Failure to provide adequate warning or directions for use, see, e.g.:

- Bachtel v. TASER Int’l, Inc., 747 F.3d 965, 970 (8^th Cir. 2014)

- Tune v. Synergy Gas Corp., 883 S.W.2d 10 (Mo. banc 1994)

- Nesselrode, 707 S.W.2d 371; Cole v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 967 S.W.2d 176 (Mo. App. E.D. 1998)

See also Tenbarge v. Ames Taping Tool Sys., Inc., 190 F.3d 862 (8^th Cir. 1999).

In a design-defect case, proof that the design makes the product unreasonably dangerous may also establish its defectiveness because the defect alleged is in the design itself rather than in the materials or manufacture of the product. See Nesselrode, 707 S.W.2d at 375–78.

MAI 25.04...