Case Title: CNH America, LLC v. Tammy Roebuck

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1080261

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 2009-10-23T00:00:00Z

Document:
REL: 10/23/2009 
Notice: 
T h i s 
o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1080261 
CNH America, LLC 
v. 
Tammy Roebuck 
Appeal from M a r s h a l l C i r c u i t 
Court 
(CV-05-200273) 
STUART, 
J u s t i c e . 
Tammy R o e b u c k 
s u e d CNH A m e r i c a , LLC ("CNH"), i n t h e 
M a r s h a l l C i r c u i t C o u r t s e e k i n g damages f o r 
t h e w r o n g f u l 
d e a t h 
o f h e r 
h u s b a n d , C h r i s R o e b u c k , who was k i l l e d i n 
an a c c i d e n t 
i n v o l v i n g a b a c k h o e m a n u f a c t u r e d b y 
CNH. A t 
t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f 
1080261 
a j u r y 
t r i a l , t h e j u r y r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t i n f a v o r o f CNH; 
h o w e v e r , on R o e b u c k ' s m o t i o n , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
o r d e r e d a new 
t r i a l on t h e g r o u n d o f j u r o r m i s c o n d u c t . 
CNH 
a p p e a l s , 
a r g u i n g t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e x c e e d e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n 
i n o r d e r i n g a new t r i a l o r , 
i n 
t h e a l t e r n a t i v e , t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e r r e d b y d e n y i n g i t s m o t i o n f o r 
a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r 
o f l a w . 
B e c a u s e we c o n c l u d e 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d i n 
d e n y i n g CNH's j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w , we 
r e v e r s e a n d 
remand. 
I . 
On A p r i l 9, 2005, C h r i s R o e b u c k a n d h i s b r o t h e r , 
Shane 
R o e b u c k , were h e l p i n g t h e i r f a t h e r , C a r l R o e b u c k , u s e a 580SK 
l o a d e r b a c k h o e m a n u f a c t u r e d b y C a s e C o r p o r a t i o n , a 
p r e d e c e s s o r 
t o CNH, t o move a l a r g e f e e d b i n on C a r l ' s f a r m i n M a r s h a l l 
C o u n t y .
1 
B e c a u s e 
t h e y were h a v i n g 
d i f f i c u l t y 
a t t a c h i n g t h e 
f e e d b i n 
t o t h e b u c k e t o f t h e b a c k h o e , C h r i s 
l e f t t o p r o c u r e 
a 
l a r g e r c h a i n t o u s e i n t h e e f f o r t . 
W h i l e he was gone, 
h o w e v e r , 
C a r l a n d Shane u s e d a d i f f e r e n t 
c h a i n t o d r a g t h e 
1The 
580SK i s 
a m u l t i - u s e p i e c e o f c o n s t r u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t 
w i t h a l o a d e r on t h e f r o n t e n d a n d a b a c k h o e on t h e r e a r e n d . 
The 
o p e r a t o r ' s 
s e a t 
s w i v e l s 180 d e g r e e s so t h a t t h e o p e r a t o r 
can 
f a c e e i t h e r t h e l o a d e r o r t h e b a c k h o e , d e p e n d i n g on w h i c h 
i s b e i n g 
u s e d . 
2 
1080261 
f e e d b i n 
t o t h e d e s i r e d l o c a t i o n . 
They t h e n r e t u r n e d w i t h t h e 
b a c k h o e t o t h e o r i g i n a l w o r k 
s i t e . 
When 
C h r i s 
r e t u r n e d 
w i t h 
t h e l a r g e r 
c h a i n , 
C a r l was 
s i t t i n g i n 
t h e o p e r a t o r ' s 
s e a t o f t h e i d l i n g 580SK f a c i n g t h e 
f r o n t l o a d e r e n d . C h r i s a p p r o a c h e d t h e 
580SK f r o m t h e b a c k h o e 
end a n d p r o c e e d e d t o t o s s an a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
12-pound c h a i n 
i n t o 
t h e 
o p e r a t o r ' s 
c a b . When t h e c h a i n 
l a n d e d 
i n t h e c a b , i t 
l a n d e d on t o p 
o f one o f t h e f o o t - s w i n g p e d a l s f o r 
t h e b a c k h o e , 
c a u s i n g t h e 
boom on t h e 
b a c k h o e t o s w i n g t o t h e s i d e , p i n n i n g 
C h r i s b e t w e e n t h e boom a n d a s t a b i l i z e r 
p o s t on t h e s i d e o f 
t h e 580SK. 
Shane q u i c k l y c l i m b e d a b o a r d t h e 
580SK a n d p r e s s e d 
t h e o t h e r 
f o o t - s w i n g 
p e d a l t o f r e e C h r i s ; h o w e v e r , C h r i s h a d 
a l r e a d y s u f f e r e d s e v e r e 
i n t e r n a l i n j u r i e s , a n d 
he d i e d s e v e r a l 
h o u r s 
l a t e r 
a t t h e 
U n i v e r s i t y 
o f A l a b a m a 
H o s p i t a l i n 
B i r m i n g h a m , where he h a d b e e n t r a n s p o r t e d v i a 
a i r a m b u l a n c e 
a f t e r 
i n i t i a l l y 
b e i n g 
t r e a t e d a t M a r s h a l l M e d i c a l 
C e n t e r i n 
B o a z . 
On December 20, 2005, Tammy 
R o e b u c k 
s u e d CNH i n 
t h e 
M a r s h a l l 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t , 
a s s e r t i n g 
c l a i m s 
o f 
b r e a c h 
o f 
w a r r a n t y , 
d e f e c t i v e 
d e s i g n 
u n d e r 
t h e A l a b a m a 
E x t e n d e d 
M a n u f a c t u r e r ' s 
L i a b i l i t y 
D o c t r i n e 
("AEMLD"), a n d 
g e n e r a l 
3 
1080261 
n e g l i g e n c e , 
i n c l u d i n g f a i l u r e t o w a r n and p o s t - s a l e 
n e g l i g e n c e 
f o r 
f a i l i n g 
t o 
w a r n , 
r e c a l l , 
o r 
r e t r o f i t 
t h e 
580SK 
i n 
q u e s t i o n . 
The 
c a s e p r o c e e d e d t o 
t r i a l 
on J u n e 9, 2008. 
CNH 
moved 
f o r 
a j u d g m e n t 
as 
a m a t t e r 
o f 
l a w 
a f t e r R o e b u c k 
had 
s u b m i t t e d 
h e r 
e v i d e n c e 
and 
a g a i n 
a t 
t h e 
c l o s e 
o f 
a l l 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e , a r g u i n g , among o t h e r 
t h i n g s , t h a t R o e b u c k ' s b r e a c h -
o f - w a r r a n t y 
c l a i m 
was 
b a r r e d 
by 
t h e 
a p p l i c a b l e 
s t a t u t e 
o f 
l i m i t a t i o n s 
and 
t h a t h e r 
v a r i o u s 
t o r t 
c l a i m s 
f a i l e d 
b e c a u s e , 
CNH 
a r g u e d , R o e b u c k had 
f a i l e d 
t o 
e s t a b l i s h t h a t 
t h e 
580SK 
C a r l owned was 
i n s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e same c o n d i t i o n when C h r i s 
was 
k i l l e d 
as 
i t was when i t was 
m a n u f a c t u r e d . 
I n f a c t , 
CNH 
a r g u e d , 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
580SK 
had 
b e e n 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y m o d i f i e d 
a f t e r l e a v i n g CNH's c o n t r o l -- t h e h a n d 
c o n t r o l s 
on 
t h e 
b a c k h o e 
had 
b e e n c h a n g e d 
t o 
f o o t 
c o n t r o l s , 
and, 
CNH 
a r g u e d , t h a t m o d i f i c a t i o n was 
t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e 
o f 
C h r i s ' s 
i n j u r i e s and d e a t h , n o t 
any 
n e g l i g e n c e 
o r e r r o r s 
t h a t 
m i g h t be 
a t t r i b u t a b l e t o CNH. 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d e n i e d b o t h 
o f 
CNH's m o t i o n s r e q u e s t i n g 
a j u d g m e n t as 
a m a t t e r o f 
l a w . 
On J u n e 20, 2008, t h e j u r y r e t u r n e d 
a v e r d i c t i n f a v o r 
o f 
CNH. 
On J u l y 21, 2008, R o e b u c k moved f o r a new 
t r i a l , 
a r g u i n g 
t h a t 
two 
j u r o r s 
had 
f a i l e d 
t o 
d i s c l o s e 
on 
t h e i r 
j u r y 
4 
1080261 
q u e s t i o n n a i r e s 
t h a t 
t h e y h a d 
p r e v i o u s l y b e e n d e f e n d a n t s 
i n 
l a w s u i t s 
s e e k i n g money damages 
and 
t h a t , 
h a d 
t h o s e 
j u r o r s 
a n s w e r e d 
t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e 
t r u t h f u l l y , 
she w o u l d have 
s t r u c k 
them f r o m t h e j u r y p a n e l . 
R o e b u c k s u b s e q u e n t l y amended h e r 
m o t i o n 
t o 
a l l e g e 
t h a t , 
d u r i n g 
j u r y 
d e l i b e r a t i o n s , 
a 
t h i r d 
j u r o r 
h a d 
r e c e i v e d 
a t e l e p h o n e 
c a l l 
f r o m 
an unknown 
p a r t y 
c o n v e y i n g 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
a b o u t 
t h e 
c a s e 
t h a t 
h a d 
n o t 
b e e n 
i n t r o d u c e d d u r i n g t h e 
t r i a l . 
On O c t o b e r 15, 2008, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t g r a n t e d R o e b u c k ' s m o t i o n and o r d e r e d a new 
t r i a l 
b a s e d 
on t h e e v i d e n c e o f 
j u r o r m i s c o n d u c t . 
CNH 
t h e n r e n e w e d i t s 
m o t i o n f o r a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w ; h o w e v e r , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d e n i e d t h a t m o t i o n on November 20, 2008. 
CNH 
a p p e a l e d . 
I I . 
On a p p e a l , CNH 
a r g u e s t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t e x c e e d e d i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i n o r d e r i n g 
a new 
t r i a l 
o r , i n t h e 
a l t e r n a t i v e , 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d 
b y 
d e n y i n g 
i t s m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w . 
T h i s C o u r t o u t l i n e d t h e s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w a p p l i c a b l e as t o e a c h o f t h e s e a r g u m e n t s 
i n A l a b a m a 
D e p a r t m e n t 
o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n v. L a n d E n e r g y , L t d . , 886 So. 2d 
787, 791-92 ( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) : 
"'When r e v i e w i n g a r u l i n g on a m o t i o n 
f o r 
a [ j u d g m e n t 
as a m a t t e r o f l a w ] , 
t h i s 
5 
1080261 
C o u r t 
u s e s 
t h e 
same 
s t a n d a r d 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t u s e d 
i n i t i a l l y i n g r a n t i n g o r d e n y i n g 
t h e 
m o t i o n . 
P a l m 
H a r b o r 
Homes, 
I n c . 
v. 
 
C r a w f o r d , 
689 
So. 
2d 
3 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 7 ) . 
R e g a r d i n g 
q u e s t i o n s o f 
f a c t , 
t h e 
u l t i m a t e 
i s s u e 
i s 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
nonmovant 
has 
p r e s e n t e d s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o a l l o w t h e 
c a s e o r i s s u e t o be s u b m i t t e d t o t h e 
j u r y 
f o r 
a 
f a c t u a l 
r e s o l u t i o n . 
C a r t e r 
v. 
H e n d e r s o n , 598 So. 2d 1350 
( A l a . 1 9 9 2 ) . 
I n 
an 
a c t i o n 
f i l e d 
a f t e r 
J u n e 
11, 
1987, 
t h e 
nonmovant must p r e s e n t s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e 
t o 
w i t h s t a n d a 
[ j u d g m e n t 
as 
a m a t t e r 
o f 
l a w ] . 
See § 1 2 - 2 1 - 1 2 , A l a . Code 1975; West  
v. F o u n d e r s 
L i f e A s s u r a n c e Co. o f 
F l o r i d a , 
547 
So. 
2d 
870, 
871 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) . 
A 
r e v i e w i n g c o u r t must d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e 
p a r t y 
who 
b e a r s 
t h e 
b u r d e n 
o f p r o o f 
has 
p r o d u c e d 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
c r e a t i n g 
a 
f a c t u a l d i s p u t e r e q u i r i n g r e s o l u t i o n by t h e 
j u r y . 
C a r t e r , 
598 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1353. 
I n 
r e v i e w i n g 
a 
r u l i n g 
on 
a 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
[ j u d g m e n t 
as a m a t t e r o f l a w ] , t h i s 
C o u r t 
v i e w s 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
i n 
t h e 
l i g h t 
most 
f a v o r a b l e t o t h e nonmovant and 
e n t e r t a i n s 
s u c h 
r e a s o n a b l e 
i n f e r e n c e s as 
t h e 
j u r y 
w o u l d have b e e n f r e e t o draw. 
I d . 
I f t h e 
q u e s t i o n i s one o f l a w , t h i s C o u r t i n d u l g e s 
no 
p r e s u m p t i o n 
o f 
c o r r e c t n e s s as 
t o 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t ' s r u l i n g . 
R i c w i l , I n c . v. 
S.L. 
 
P a p p a s & Co., 
599 So. 2d 1126 
( A l a . 1 9 9 2 ) . ' 
"Ex p a r t e A l f a Mut. 
F i r e I n s . Co., 
742 
So. 2d 
1237, 
1240 
( A l a . 1 9 9 9 ) . 
" ' [ T ] h e r u l i n g on a m o t i o n f o r new 
t r i a l i s 
w i t h i n t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t [ , ] 
and 
... t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n 
c a r r i e s 
a s t r o n g p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s . 
G o l d  
K i s t , I n c . v. T e d d e r , 
580 So. 2d 1321, 
1322 
( A l a . 
1991) . 
The 
d e c i s i o n 
o f 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s h o u l d 
n o t 
be 
d i s t u r b e d 
on 
a p p e a l 
6 
1080261 
u n l e s s 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
p l a i n l y 
and 
p a l p a b l y 
shows t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d and t h a t 
some l e g a l 
r i g h t h a s b e e n a b u s e d . ' 
" M c B r i d e v. S h e p p a r d , 624 So. 2d 1069, 1070-71 
( A l a . 
19 9 3 ) . " 
I I I . 
We 
f i r s t 
c o n s i d e r CNH's a r g u m e n t t h a t i t 
was e n t i t l e d t o 
a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w on a l l t h e c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d b y 
R o e b u c k . 
W i t h r e g a r d t o R o e b u c k ' s b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y 
c l a i m , 
CNH a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h a t 
c l a i m i s b a r r e d b y § 7 - 2 - 7 2 5 ( 1 ) , A l a . 
Code 1975, w h i c h p r o v i d e s 
t h a t " [ a ] n a c t i o n f o r 
b r e a c h o f a n y 
c o n t r a c t f o r s a l e must be commenced w i t h i n 
f o u r 
y e a r s 
a f t e r 
t h e c a u s e o f a c t i o n h a s a c c r u e d . " 
S e c t i o n 7 - 2 - 7 2 5 ( 2 ) 
f u r t h e r 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t " [ a ] c a u s e o f a c t i o n 
a c c r u e s when t h e b r e a c h 
o c c u r s " 
and " [ a ] b r e a c h o f w a r r a n t y 
o c c u r s when t e n d e r o f 
d e l i v e r y i s made 
" 
B e c a u s e 
C a r l 
t o o k 
d e l i v e r y o f h i s 
580SK on J u l y 26, 1993, CNH a r g u e s t h a t a n y b r e a c h o f w a r r a n t y 
t h a t o c c u r r e d w o u l d have o c c u r r e d on t h a t d a t e , a n d a n y c l a i m 
b a s e d upon 
t h a t 
b r e a c h 
s h o u l d 
h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t 
w i t h i n t h e 
n e x t 
f o u r 
y e a r s , 
o r b y J u l y 26, 1997. 
R o e b u c k ' s 
c l a i m i s 
c l e a r l y 
o u t s i d e 
t h a t 
p e r i o d ; 
t h e r e f o r e , 
CNH 
a r g u e s , i t 
i s 
t i m e - b a r r e d . 
7 
1080261 
However, R o e b u c k a r g u e s t h a t h e r 
a c t i o n 
f a l l s 
w i t h i n 
an 
e x c e p t i o n 
i n § 7 - 2 - 7 2 5 ( 2 ) f o r c o n s u m e r g o o d s . 
T h a t 
e x c e p t i o n 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t "a c a u s e o f a c t i o n f o r damages f o r i n j u r y t o 
t h e 
p e r s o n 
i n t h e 
c a s e 
o f c o n s u m e r goods 
s h a l l 
a c c r u e when 
t h e 
i n j u r y o c c u r s , " 
and, R o e b u c k a r g u e s , b e c a u s e C h r i s was 
i n j u r e d 
on 
A p r i l 
9, 
2 0 0 5 , and 
b e c a u s e she 
f i l e d 
h e r 
c l a i m 
l e s s 
t h a n 
n i n e months 
l a t e r 
on December 20, 
2005, h e r 
c l a i m was 
f i l e d 
w i t h i n t h e f o u r - y e a r 
p e r i o d a l l o w e d 
by l a w . 
The 
t i m e l i n e s s 
o f 
R o e b u c k ' s c l a i m t h e r e f o r e h i n g e s on w h e t h e r t h e 580SK by w h i c h 
C h r i s was 
i n j u r e d was 
a "consumer g o o d . " 
"Consumer g o o d s " a r e 
d e f i n e d 
i n § 7 - 9 A - 1 0 2 ( a ) ( 2 3 ) , 
A l a . 
Code 1975, 
o f A l a b a m a ' s U n i f o r m C o m m e r c i a l Code as "goods t h a t 
a r e u s e d o r b o u g h t f o r use 
p r i m a r i l y f o r p e r s o n a l , 
f a m i l y , 
o r 
h o u s e h o l d p u r p o s e s , " so we must a c c o r d i n g l y d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r 
t h e 580SK C a r l p u r c h a s e d was 
" u s e d o r b o u g h t f o r use 
p r i m a r i l y 
f o r 
p e r s o n a l , 
f a m i l y , o r h o u s e h o l d p u r p o s e s . " 
A t 
t r i a l , 
t h e 
u n d i s p u t e d e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e d t h a t C a r l o r i g i n a l l y 
p u r c h a s e d 
t h e 580SK t o use 
i n h i s 
c o n s t r u c t i o n 
b u s i n e s s . 
I t was 
a l s o 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
C a r l 
l e f t 
t h e 
c o n s t r u c t i o n 
b u s i n e s s 
i n 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2004 and 
t h a t a f t e r t h a t t i m e he u s e d t h e 580SK 
p r i m a r i l y a r o u n d h i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 0 - a c r e f a r m i n 
M a r s h a l l 
8 
1080261 
C o u n t y . 
R o e b u c k t h e r e f o r e a r g u e s t h a t e v e n t h o u g h t h e 580SK 
m i g h t h a v e once b e e n c o n s i d e r e d b u s i n e s s e q u i p m e n t , i t 
became 
a c o n s u m e r good when C a r l f o u n d a p e r s o n a l u s e f o r 
i t o u t s i d e 
t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n b u s i n e s s . 
I n s u p p o r t o f h e r a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e l e g a l 
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f a g o o d c a n c h a n g e when t h a t g o o d 
i s p u t t o a d i f f e r e n t u s e , R o e b u c k 
c i t e s Ex p a r t e 
G e n e r a l 
M o t o r s A c c e p t a n c e C o r p . , 425 So. 2d 464 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 3 ) , i n w h i c h 
t h i s C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t an a u t o m o b i l e was a c o n s u m e r g o o d a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
i t was 
p u r c h a s e d 
b y 
t h e owner 
o f a 
u s e d - c a r 
d e a l e r s h i p f o r 
h i s p e r s o n a l u s e b u t t h a t t h e a u t o m o b i l e was 
c o n v e r t e d t o b u s i n e s s 
i n v e n t o r y when t h e owner 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
p l a c e d 
i t f o r s a l e 
a t h i s d e a l e r s h i p . 
I n r e j e c t i n g t h e 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
a c a r t h a t 
was 
once 
a c o n s u m e r 
g o o d 
must 
t h e r e a f t e r r e m a i n a c o n s u m e r g o o d , t h i s C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
" [ T h e 
p e t i t i o n e r ] 
a r g u e s t h a t 
t h e c a r was a 
c o n s u m e r good when i t 
was s o l d t o [ t h e r e s p o n d e n t ] 
and t h a t i t 
r e m a i n e d a c o n s u m e r g o o d r e g a r d l e s s o f 
t h e a c t i o n s t a k e n b y [ t h e r e s p o n d e n t ] . 
T h i s i s 
n o t 
t h e c a s e . 
W h i t e and Summers d e a l d i r e c t l y w i t h 
t h i s 
k i n d o f s i t u a t i o n : 
" ' N o t e w e l l t h a t [§] 9-109 [ o f 
t h e U n i f o r m 
C o m m e r c i a l Code] does n o t c l a s s i f y 
goods 
a c c o r d i n g t o d e s i g n o r i n t r i n s i c n a t u r e b u t 
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e u s e t o w h i c h t h e i r 
owner 
p u t s them. 
I t f o l l o w s t h a t as u s e c h a n g e s , 
e i t h e r 
b e c a u s e t h e owner 
f i n d s 
some new  
t a s k 
f o r t h e goods 
o r b e c a u s e an owner 
9 
1080261 
s e l l s t h e goods t o a n o t h e r who u s e s i t 
f o r 
a n o t h e r p u r p o s e , t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e 
goods 
w i l l 
a l s o c h a n g e . ' 
" J . 
W h i t e & R. Summers, U n i f o r m C o m m e r c i a l Code § 
23-7 
(2d e d . 1 9 8 0 ) . 
( E m p h a s i s a d d e d . ) " 
Ex p a r t e G e n e r a l M o t o r s A c c e p t a n c e C o r p . , 425 So. 2d a t 466. 
However, 
a l t h o u g h we a g r e e t h a t t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n 
o f a 
p a r t i c u l a r good may c h a n g e w i t h t h e u s e o f t h e g o o d , and t h a t 
C a r l ' s 
u s e 
o f h i s 580SK 
may 
h a v e 
c h a n g e d 
o v e r 
t i m e , 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d n e v e r t h e l e s s i n d i c a t e s t h a t C a r l ' s u s e 
o f 
t h i s 580SK n e v e r c h a n g e d i n a manner t h a t w o u l d c o n v e r t i t 
f r o m b u s i n e s s e q u i p m e n t t o a c o n s u m e r g o o d . 
I n o t h e r w o r d s , 
t h e r e i s no s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e 580SK was 
e v e r 
u s e d 
as 
a 
c o n s u m e r 
g o o d , 
t h a t 
i s , " p r i m a r i l y 
f o r 
p e r s o n a l , f a m i l y , o r h o u s e h o l d p u r p o s e s . " 
§ 7 - 9 A - 1 0 2 ( a ) ( 2 3 ) . 
When R o e b u c k ' s a t t o r n e y q u e s t i o n e d C a r l a t t r i a l a b o u t h i s u s e 
o f t h e 580SK, 
C a r l 
t e s t i f i e d as 
f o l l o w s : 
"Q: 
The 
f i r s t 
s e v e r a l 
y e a r s , 
o r when you g o t t h e 
b a c k h o e , 
Mr. 
R o e b u c k , 
were 
you 
s t i l l 
i n t h e 
c o n s t r u c t i o n 
b u s i n e s s ? 
"A: 
Y e s . 
"Q: 
D i d you h a v e a f a r m , 
a l s o ? 
"A: 
Uh-huh. 
10 
1080261 
"Q: 
What k i n d o f work i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n 
b u s i n e s s 
d i d you do? 
"A: 
W e l l , 
we 
p u t 
i n 
s e p t i c 
t a n s 
and 
g e n e r a l 
c o n s t r u c t i o n w o r k , d i g f o o t i n g s , 
t h a t 
t y p e o f 
t h i n g . 
"Q: 
And you u s e d 
t h a t 
-- t h e [580SK] b a c k h o e i n 
t h i s 
c a s e f o r t h a t 
p u r p o s e ? 
"A: 
T h a t ' s 
c o r r e c t . 
"Q: 
A f t e r s e v e r a l y e a r s p a s s e d and i n t h e few y e a r s 
l e a d i n g 
b e f o r e 
C h r i s ' s 
d e a t h , h a d you 
g o t t e n 
o u t o f d o i n g work f o r 
t h e p u b l i c ? 
"A: Y e s . 
"Q: 
What d i d you u s e t h e b a c k h o e f o r 
m o s t l y 
d u r i n g 
t h o s e -¬
"A: We w o r k e d on t h e f a r m w i t h i t 
most o f t h e t i m e , 
b u r y i n g cows and w h a t e v e r . " 
On c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n , 
C a r l was a g a i n a s k e d a b o u t t h i s 
s u b j e c t 
and gave t h e f o l l o w i n g 
t e s t i m o n y : 
"Q: 
Now, 
l e t ' s 
g e t b a c k t o y o u r 
b u s i n e s s 
f o r a 
s e c o n d . 
Shane 
t e s t i f i e d t h e o t h e r d a y , and I 
t h i n k 
y o u ' v e 
t e s t i f i e d 
h e r e 
t o d a y , 
t h a t 
you 
o b v i o u s l y b o u g h t 
t h i s b a c k h o e we're h e r e a b o u t 
f o r 
y o u r b u s i n e s s , 
r i g h t ? 
"A: Y e s . 
"Q: 
From 1993 u n t i l s o m e t i m e i n t h e e a r l y 2000s -¬
2003, 2004 -- t h a t ' s what you u s e d y o u r b a c k h o e 
f o r ? 
"A: 
T h a t ' s 
c o r r e c t . 
11 
1080261 
"Q: 
Y o u r c o n s t r u c t i o n and e x c a v a t i o n 
b u s i n e s s ? 
"A: Y e s . 
"Q: 
A n d 
t h e n 
I g u e s s 
a r o u n d 
t h a t 
t i m e when y o u 
s t o p p e d 
d o i n g 
t h a t 
w o r k , you t o o k i t o u t t o 
y o u r f a r m ? 
"A: 
W e l l , t h e f a r m ' s c o n n e c t e d t o t h e b u s i n e s s . 
"Q: 
I ' v e g o t y o u . 
Okay. 
"A: 
Y e a h . 
"Q: 
And I t h i n k you t o l d us i n y o u r d e p o s i t i o n 
t h a t 
you were t r y i n g t o r a i s e -- g e t up y o u r h e r d o f 
c a t t l e on t h e f a r m , 
r i g h t , a b o u t t h a t 
t i m e ? 
"A: Y e s . 
"Q: 
And 
t r y t o 
t u r n 
i t i n t o 
a 
s m a l l 
l i t t l e 
moneymaker f o r you? 
"A: 
I f p o s s i b l e . 
"Q: 
B u t you were t r y i n g , r i g h t ? 
"A: Y e s . " 
E v e n when we v i e w t h i s t e s t i m o n y i n t h e l i g h t most 
f a v o r a b l e 
t o R o e b u c k , as we must, s e e L a n d E n e r g y , L t d . , 886 So. 2d a t 
7 9 1 - 9 2 , i t 
does n o t i n d i c a t e t h a t C a r l ' s u s e o f t h e 580SK e v e r 
s h i f t e d t o a p r i m a r i l y p e r s o n a l , 
f a m i l y , o r h o u s e h o l d p u r p o s e ; 
r a t h e r , i t i n d i c a t e s o n l y 
t h a t i t s h i f t e d f r o m one b u s i n e s s 
use -- c o n s t r u c t i o n and e x c a v a t i n g -- t o a n o t h e r b u s i n e s s u s e 
-- f a r m i n g and r a n c h i n g . 
A l t h o u g h h i s r e s i d e n c e was 
l o c a t e d 
12 
1080261 
on t h e f a r m p r o p e r t y , C a r l a c k n o w l e d g e d 
t h a t he was 
t r y i n g t o 
o p e r a t e 
t h e f a r m 
f o r a p r o f i t 
and 
t h a t 
t h e 580SK was 
u s e d 
p r i m a r i l y f o r f a r m w o r k . 
When a s k e d d i r e c t l y how he u s e d t h e 
580SK, C a r l 
r e p l i e d , 
" w o r k [ i n g ] on t h e f a r m ... b u r y i n g cows 
and w h a t e v e r , " 
a u s e 
c l e a r l y c o n n e c t e d t o h i s e f f o r t t o 
r a i s e 
c a t t l e 
f o r p r o f i t . 
A l t h o u g h t h e 580SK m i g h t have b e e n 
u s e d 
o c c a s i o n a l l y , 
and 
e v e n 
on t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e 
a c c i d e n t , 
b y 
C a r l 
and 
o t h e r 
f a m i l y 
members 
f o r p u r p o s e s 
n o t 
d i r e c t l y 
r e l a t e d t o t h e b u s i n e s s o f t h e f a r m , w h e t h e r 
t h e 580SK was 
a 
c o n s u m e r good u n d e r § 7 - 9 A - 1 0 2 ( a ) ( 2 3 ) 
d e p e n d s on i t s p r i m a r y 
u s e . 
The e v i d e n c e does n o t s u p p o r t R o e b u c k ' s a s s e r t i o n 
t h a t 
t h e 
580SK 
was 
u s e d 
p r i m a r i l y 
f o r 
p e r s o n a l , 
f a m i l y , 
o r 
h o u s e h o l d p u r p o s e s ; 
t h e r e f o r e , we must c o n c l u d e 
t h a t i t was 
n o t a c o n s u m e r g o o d . 
A b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y c l a i m a g a i n s t 
CNH 
i s 
t h e r e f o r e n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e c o n s u m e r - g o o d s e x c e p t i o n t o 
t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s i n § 7-2-725. 
R o e b u c k ' s b r e a c h - o f -
w a r r a n t y 
c l a i m 
i s 
a c c o r d i n g l y 
t i m e - b a r r e d b e c a u s e 
i t 
was 
b r o u g h t more t h a n f o u r y e a r s a f t e r t h e d a t e t h e c l a i m a c c r u e d 
i n 
J u l y 
1993. 
I V . 
13 
1080261 
CNH 
n e x t a r g u e s 
t h a t 
i t i s e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a j u d g m e n t as 
a 
m a t t e r o f l a w on R o e b u c k ' s v a r i o u s 
o t h e r c l a i m s , w h i c h a r e a l l 
t o r t - b a s e d , b e c a u s e , i t s a y s , R o e b u c k f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t 
C h r i s ' s 
i n j u r i e s 
and 
d e a t h were 
p r o x i m a t e l y 
c a u s e d 
by 
any 
m i s c o n d u c t 
o r 
n e g l i g e n c e 
a t t r i b u t a b l e t o 
CNH. 
R a t h e r , 
CNH 
a r g u e s , 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
580SK 
had 
b e e n 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
m o d i f i e d 
a f t e r l e a v i n g CNH's c o n t r o l and 
t h a t 
t h a t m o d i f i c a t i o n was 
t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o f C h r i s ' s 
i n j u r i e s 
and 
d e a t h , 
n o t 
any 
n e g l i g e n c e 
o r 
e r r o r s 
t h a t 
m i g h t 
be 
a t t r i b u t a b l e 
t o CNH. 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
CNH 
a r g u e s t h a t when 
t h e 
580SK 
l e f t 
i t s f a c t o r y , i t was 
e q u i p p e d w i t h 
d u a l - l e v e r 
h a n d 
c o n t r o l s 
t h a t 
o p e r a t e d 
t h e 
b a c k h o e , 
n o t 
f o o t - s w i n g 
p e d a l s . 
CNH 
f u r t h e r 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
a 
r e v i e w 
o f 
t h e 
580SK 
a f t e r 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
r e v e a l e d 
t h a t 
w h o e v e r 
had 
c o n v e r t e d 
i t f r o m 
h a n d 
c o n t r o l s t o f o o t p e d a l s f a i l e d t o c h a n g e t h e c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g 
f r o m 
t h e 
p u r p l e 
s p r i n g u s e d w i t h h a n d 
c o n t r o l s 
t o 
t h e 
more 
r i g i d 
b l a c k 
s p r i n g u s e d w i t h 
f o o t 
p e d a l s
2 
and 
t h a t , 
had 
t h e 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g b e e n s w i t c h e d , 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
w o u l d n o t 
h a v e 
2CNH 
s o l d 
a 
k i t t h a t 
c o u l d 
be 
u s e d 
t o 
c o n v e r t 
a 580SK 
b a c k h o e f r o m h a n d c o n t r o l s t o f o o t - p e d a l 
c o n t r o l s . 
T h a t k i t 
i n c l u d e d a b l a c k c e n t e r i n g s p r i n g , and t h e u s e r was 
i n s t r u c t e d 
t o r e p l a c e 
t h e 
e x i s t i n g p u r p l e 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g w i t h t h a t 
new 
b l a c k 
s p r i n g . 
14 
1080261 
o c c u r r e d b e c a u s e , CNH s a y s , t h e 12-pound c h a i n t h r o w n i n t o t h e 
o p e r a t o r ' s 
cab by 
C h r i s 
w o u l d n o t have 
a p p l i e d 
s u f f i c i e n t 
f o r c e t o t h e f o o t - s w i n g 
p e d a l t o c o m p r e s s t h e more r i g i d 
b l a c k 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g and a c t i v a t e t h e b a c k h o e . 
I n 
s u p p o r t 
o f 
i t s a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
t h e 
580SK 
was 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
m o d i f i e d 
a f t e r 
l e a v i n g 
t h e 
f a c t o r y , 
CNH 
s u b m i t t e d f a c t o r y r e c o r d s 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e 580SK p u r c h a s e d 
b y C a r l was b u i l t w i t h d u a l - l e v e r h a n d c o n t r o l s , and n o t f o o t -
s w i n g 
p e d a l s . 
Those 
f a c t o r y 
r e c o r d s 
a l s o 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t , 
a f t e r i t s 
m a n u f a c t u r e was c o m p l e t e , t h e 580SK was s e n t t o an 
i n d e p e n d e n t d e a l e r i n J a c k s o n , M i s s i s s i p p i -- Tubb E q u i p m e n t 
and 
R e n t a l Company -- f o r s a l e t o t h e p u b l i c , and t h e 
r e c o r d s 
o f Tubb E q u i p m e n t and R e n t a l 
l i k e w i s e i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e 580SK 
was e q u i p p e d w i t h 
d u a l - l e v e r h a n d c o n t r o l s . 
I m p o r t a n t l y , 
R o e b u c k d o e s n o t d i s p u t e 
t h a t t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
t h a t 
k i l l e d 
C h r i s 
w o u l d n o t have 
o c c u r r e d 
i f t h e 
c o r r e c t 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g h a d b e e n i n p l a c e . 
However, R o e b u c k a r g u e s 
t h a t CNH 
i s s t i l l 
n o t e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f 
l a w 
b e c a u s e , she s a y s : 
(1) a q u e s t i o n 
o f f a c t e x i s t s as t o 
w h e t h e r t h e 580SK 
C a r l p u r c h a s e d was m a n u f a c t u r e d w i t h 
h a n d 
c o n t r o l s o r f o o t 
c o n t r o l s , and (2) CNH 
s h o u l d 
h a v e 
f o r e s e e n 
15 
1080261 
t h a t t h e p u r p l e 
c e n t e r i n g s p r i n g m i g h t be u s e d i n a 580SK e v e n 
a f t e r i t was 
c o n v e r t e d t o f o o t 
c o n t r o l s . 
I n s u p p o r t o f h e r 
f i r s t 
a r g u m e n t , R o e b u c k 
h i g h l i g h t s e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
7 5 % 
o f t h e 580SKs 
CNH 
b u i l t 
h a d 
f o o t - s w i n g 
p e d a l s as o p p o s e d t o h a n d c o n t r o l s ; t h a t t h e r e c o r d s 
o f Tubb 
E q u i p m e n t 
and 
R e n t a l 
i n d i c a t e 
t h a t 
i t d i d n o t 
c o n v e r t 
t h e 
b a c k h o e 
c o n t r o l s on t h e 580SK b e f o r e 
t r a n s f e r r i n g i t t o t h e 
d e a l e r t h a t u l t i m a t e l y s o l d i t 
t o C a r l , M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t 
i n H u n t s v i l l e ; t h a t t h e r e i s no e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t M i d -
S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t c o n v e r t e d t h e b a c k h o e c o n t r o l s f r o m h a n d t o 
f o o t 
o p e r a t i o n ; 
and 
t h a t when C a r l 
r e c e i v e d 
t h e 580SK 
f r o m 
M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t on J u l y 26, 1993, i t 
h a d f o o t c o n t r o l s . 
Thus, 
R o e b u c k 
a r g u e s , 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
s u p p o r t s 
two 
c o n t r a r y 
i n f e r e n c e s , e i t h e r o f w h i c h a j u r y c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y b e l i e v e -¬
t h a t t h e 580SK was 
c o n v e r t e d t o f o o t 
c o n t r o l s 
a f t e r i t l e f t 
t h e CNH 
f a c t o r y o r t h a t t h e 580SK h a d f o o t 
c o n t r o l s when i t 
l e f t t h e f a c t o r y . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
she a r g u e s , a j u d g m e n t as a 
m a t t e r o f l a w i s i n a p p r o p r i a t e . 
However, 
we 
d i s a g r e e 
t h a t R o e b u c k 
s u b m i t t e d 
s u f f i c i e n t 
e v i d e n c e t o c r e a t e a q u e s t i o n 
o f f a c t on t h i s p o i n t . 
As t h e 
c l a i m a n t , R o e b u c k b o r e t h e b u r d e n o f e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t 
C a r l ' s 
16 
1080261 
580SK h a d n o t b e e n s u b s t a n t i a l l y m o d i f i e d a t t h e t i m e o f t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
f r o m 
t h e 
c o n d i t i o n 
i n w h i c h 
i t l e f t 
t h e 
f a c t o r y . 
S e a r s , R o e b u c k & Co. v. H a r r i s , 630 So. 2d 1018, 1026-27 ( A l a . 
1 
9 9 3 ) . 
A t 
t r i a l , 
b u s i n e s s r e c o r d s f r o m b o t h CNH 
and 
Tubb 
E q u i p m e n t and R e n t a l were s u b m i t t e d t h a t 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
580SK 
C a r l 
p u r c h a s e d 
h a d 
h a n d 
c o n t r o l s 
when 
i t 
was 
m a n u f a c t u r e d 
and 
d e l i v e r e d 
t o Tubb 
E q u i p m e n t 
and 
R e n t a l . 
R o e b u c k has s u b m i t t e d n o t h i n g t h a t w o u l d r e b u t t h a t e v i d e n c e ; 
i n s t e a d , 
she s p e c u l a t e s t h a t , b e c a u s e 75% o f t h e 580SKs 
CNH 
m a n u f a c t u r e d h a d f o o t c o n t r o l s , p e r h a p s t h o s e r e c o r d s a r e i n 
e r r o r and t h e 580SK C a r l p u r c h a s e d was 
a l s o 
b u i l t 
w i t h 
f o o t 
c o n t r o l s . 
However, " e v i d e n c e w h i c h a f f o r d s n o t h i n g more t h a n 
mere s p e c u l a t i o n , c o n j e c t u r e , o r g u e s s i s w h o l l y i n s u f f i c i e n t 
t o w a r r a n t s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e c a s e t o t h e j u r y . " 
R o b e r t s v.  
C a r r o l l , 
377 So. 2d 944, 
946 
( A l a . 1979) 
( c i t i n g H e a d r i c k v.  
U n i t e d 
I n s . Co. 
o f A m e r i c a , 
27 9 A l a . 82, 
181 
So. 
2d 
896 
( 1 9 6 6 ) ) . 
M o r e o v e r , a l t h o u g h R o e b u c k a l s o e m p h a s i z e s 
t h a t t h e r e i s 
no e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t c o n v e r t e d 
t h e 
580SK t o f o o t 
c o n t r o l s , 
t h a t 
f a c t 
i s m i s l e a d i n g b e c a u s e 
M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t i s no l o n g e r i n b u s i n e s s and t h e r e i s 
17 
1080261 
no e v i d e n c e w h a t s o e v e r r e g a r d i n g i t s h a n d l i n g and 
m a i n t e n a n c e 
o f t h e 580SK C a r l p u r c h a s e d . 
What u n d i s p u t e d 
e v i d e n c e i s i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d , h o w e v e r , 
i n d i c a t e s , i n c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r : 
1) 
t h a t t h e 580SK C a r l p u r c h a s e d was 
m a n u f a c t u r e d 
w i t h 
b a c k h o e 
h a n d c o n t r o l s ; 2) 
t h a t t h e 580SK C a r l p u r c h a s e d h a d 
b a c k h o e 
h a n d c o n t r o l s a t a l l t i m e s w h i l e 
i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n 
o f Tubb 
E q u i p m e n t 
and R e n t a l ; 3) t h a t C a r l o r d e r e d 
a 580SK w i t h 
f o o t -
s w i n g 
p e d a l s 
f r o m 
M i d - S o u t h e r n 
E q u i p m e n t ; 
4) 
t h a t 
Tubb 
E q u i p m e n t 
and R e n t a l t r a n s f e r r e d t h e 580SK t h a t was u l t i m a t e l y 
s o l d t o C a r l t o M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t 
on J u l y 23, 1993; 
and 
5) 
t h a t when M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t 
d e l i v e r e d t h a t 580SK t o 
C a r l 
t h r e e 
d a y s 
l a t e r , 
on 
J u l y 26, 
1993, 
i t h a d 
f o o t - s w i n g 
p e d a l s , n o t h a n d c o n t r o l s . When c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s e v i d e n c e , 
we 
c a n n o t 
a g r e e 
w i t h R o e b u c k 
t h a t 
" f a i r - m i n d e d 
p e r s o n s 
i n t h e 
e x e r c i s e 
o f 
i m p a r t i a l 
j u d g m e n t " 
c o u l d 
r e a s o n a b l y 
i n f e r , 
c o n t r a r y t o a l l 
t h e r e c o r d s 
t h a t have b e e n p r o d u c e d , t h a t 
CNH 
m a n u f a c t u r e d 
t h e 
580SK 
p u r c h a s e d 
b y 
C a r l 
w i t h 
f o o t - s w i n g 
p e d a l s . 
West v. F o u n d e r s 
L i f e A s s u r a n c e Co. o f F l o r i d a , 
547 
So. 
2d 
870, 
871 
( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) . 
I f a n y t h i n g , 
t h e 
r e a s o n a b l e 
i n f e r e n c e 
t o be made i s t h a t 
t h e 580SK 
C a r l p u r c h a s e d 
was 
m o d i f i e d b y M i d - S o u t h e r n E q u i p m e n t 
t o meet t h e r e q u e s t 
o f t h e 
18 
1080261 
c u s t o m e r who 
o r d e r e d 
i t . 
I t i s u n f o r t u n a t e 
t h a t t h e 
r e c o r d s 
f r o m 
M i d - S o u t h e r n 
E q u i p m e n t 
a r e 
u n a v a i l a b l e ; h o w e v e r , 
t o 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
i s 
a 
q u e s t i o n 
o f 
f a c t 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
b a c k h o e c o n t r o l s o f t h e 580SK C a r l p u r c h a s e d 
b a s e d upon t h a t 
u n a v a i l a b i l i t y 
w o u l d 
e s s e n t i a l l y 
s h i f t 
t h e b u r d e n 
o f 
p r o o f 
f r o m R o e b u c k t o CNH. 
S u c h a b u r d e n s h i f t i n g i s i m p e r m i s s i b l e 
u n d e r o u r 
l a w . 
R o e b u c k 
a l s o 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
CNH 
i s 
n o t 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a 
j u d g m e n t as 
a m a t t e r 
o f l a w b e c a u s e , 
she 
s a y s , e v e n i f t h e 
580SK had b e e n s u b s t a n t i a l l y m o d i f i e d b e f o r e t h e a c c i d e n t , 
CNH 
s h o u l d 
have 
r e a s o n a b l y 
f o r e s e e n 
t h a t 
m o d i f i c a t i o n . 
See 
 
H a r r i s , 
630 
So. 2d a t 1027 
("A m a n u f a c t u r e r 
o r s e l l e r 
r e m a i n s 
l i a b l e 
... 
i f t h e 
a l t e r a t i o n 
o r m o d i f i c a t i o n was 
r e a s o n a b l y 
f o r e s e e a b l e t o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r 
o r s e l l e r . " ) . 
R o e b u c k a r g u e s 
t h a t CNH 
s h o u l d h a v e f o r e s e e n t h a t t h e w r o n g c e n t e r i n g s p r i n g 
c o u l d be 
l e f t 
i n a 580SK when t h e b a c k h o e was 
c o n v e r t e d 
f r o m 
h a n d c o n t r o l s t o f o o t c o n t r o l s b e c a u s e , 
f i r s t , 
CNH 
knew 
s u c h 
c o n v e r s i o n s o c c u r r e d and, 
i n f a c t , p r o d u c e d and 
s o l d a k i t t o 
a c c o m p l i s h t h o s e c o n v e r s i o n s , and, s e c o n d , CNH 
had l e a r n e d , i n 
1998 
o r 1999, 
o f an a c c i d e n t t h a t o c c u r r e d i n A l a s k a 
i n v o l v i n g 
19 
1080261 
a f o o t - o p e r a t e d 
580SK b a c k h o e 
i n w h i c h t h e c o r r e c t 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g h a d n o t b e e n 
i n s t a l l e d . 
CNH 
a r g u e s , h o w e v e r , 
t h a t t h e A l a s k a 
a c c i d e n t i t l e a r n e d 
o f i n 1998 
o r 1999 
has no b e a r i n g 
on w h e t h e r 
i t c o u l d 
h a v e 
f o r e s e e n , 
a t t h e t i m e t h e 580SK h e r e was 
m a n u f a c t u r e d 
and 
d e l i v e r e d t o C a r l , 
t h a t t h e w r o n g c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g m i g h t 
be 
u s e d i n a h a n d - c o n t r o l - t o - f o o t - c o n t r o l c o n v e r s i o n b e c a u s e t h e 
k n o w l e d g e 
o f 
t h e 
A l a s k a 
a c c i d e n t 
was 
n o t 
a c q u i r e d 
u n t i l 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
f i v e 
y e a r s 
a f t e r 
C a r l 
p u r c h a s e d 
h i s 580SK.
3 
M o r e o v e r , 
a l t h o u g h CNH 
a c k n o w l e d g e s 
t h a t i t was 
f o r e s e e a b l e 
t h a t hand c o n t r o l s on a 580SK w o u l d s o m e t i m e s be c o n v e r t e d t o 
f o o t 
c o n t r o l s 
and 
t h a t 
i t p r o d u c e d 
a 
k i t so 
t h a t 
s u c h 
a 
c o n v e r s i o n 
c o u l d 
be 
p e r f o r m e d , 
i t a r g u e s 
t h a t 
i t was 
n o t 
f o r e s e e a b l e t h a t t h e c o n v e r s i o n w o u l d be p e r f o r m e d 
i n c o r r e c t l y 
and 
t h a t 
t h e w r o n g 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g 
w o u l d 
be 
l e f t 
i n t h e 
b a c k h o e i n l i g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e c o n v e r s i o n 
k i t i n c l u d e d 
t h e 
c o r r e c t 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g 
and 
t h e 
i n c l u d e d 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
i n s t r u c t e d t h e p e r s o n p e r f o r m i n g t h e 
c o n v e r s i o n 
as t o how 
t o s w i t c h t h e s p r i n g s . 
We 
a g r e e . 
3 A t 
t r i a l , a CNH 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t , e v e n 
t h o u g h t h e 580SK i n v o l v e d i n t h e A l a s k a a c c i d e n t h a d t h e w r o n g 
c e n t e r i n g s p r i n g i n t h e c o n t r o l m e c h a n i s m o f t h e b a c k h o e , 
t h e 
c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g was n o t t h e c a u s e o f t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
20 
1080261 
I t i s i n s t r u c t i v e t o compare t h e f a c t s o f t h e p r e s e n t 
c a s e w i t h t h e f a c t s i n H a r r i s , i n w h i c h 
t h i s C o u r t c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t a m o d i f i c a t i o n t o a p r o d u c t t h a t s u b s e q u e n t l y c a u s e d an 
i n j u r y was f o r e s e e a b l e and t h a t t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r was t h e r e f o r e 
s u b j e c t t o l i a b i l i t y n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g 
t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n t o t h e 
p r o d u c t . 
630 So. 2d a t 1027. We s u m m a r i z e d 
H a r r i s as f o l l o w s 
i n H o r n v. F a d a l M a c h i n i n g C e n t e r s , L L C , 972 So. 2d 63, 72-73 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 7 ) : 
" H a r r i s 
i n v o l v e d , among o t h e r t h i n g s , an AEMLD 
a c t i o n a g a i n s t a m a n u f a c t u r e r and a r e t a i l e r 
a r i s i n g 
o u t o f t h e i m p r o p e r 
i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a w a t e r h e a t e r , 
r e s u l t i n g i n 
t h e s e v e r e c a r b o n - m o n o x i d e 
p o i s o n i n g o f 
t h e 
o c c u p a n t s o f a m o b i l e home. 
The h e a t e r was 
i m p r o p e r l y 
i n s t a l l e d 
' w i t h o u t a p i p e t o v e n t c a r b o n 
m o n o x i d e and o t h e r e x h a u s t g a s e s o u t s i d e t h e m o b i l e 
home.' 
630 
So. 2d a t 1023. 
The 
h e a t e r 
was 
p r e v i o u s l y owned, and no 
' d r a f t h o o d ' 
a c c o m p a n i e d 
t h e 
h e a t e r when i t l e f t 
t h e o r i g i n a l 
p u r c h a s e r ' s 
p o s s e s s i o n . 
" ' A t 
t r i a l , 
[ t h e i n s t a l l e r f o r t h e o c c u p a n t s ] 
t e s t i f i e d t h a t when he i n s t a l l e d t h e w a t e r h e a t e r he 
d i d 
n o t 
know 
t h a t 
gas 
w a t e r 
h e a t e r s 
r e q u i r e d 
v e n t i n g . ' 
630 So. 2d a t 1023. 
A f t e r 
a 
j u r y 
r e t u r n e d 
a 
v e r d i c t 
a g a i n s t 
t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r 
and 
s e l l e r , 
t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r 
and 
s e l l e r 
moved f o r a 
j u d g m e n t n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e v e r d i c t 
[now c a l l e d a 
j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w ] , a r g u i n g , among o t h e r 
t h i n g s , 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
h a d 
f a i l e d 
t o 
' c a r r y 
t h e i r b u r d e n o f e s t a b l i s h i n g 
t h a t t h e w a t e r h e a t e r 
h a d 
n o t b e e n 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
a l t e r e d 
b e t w e e n i t s 
[ s a l e ] and t h e t i m e o f t h e a c c i d e n t . ' 
630 So. 2d a t 
1027. 
I n d e e d , 
t h e ' u n d i s p u t e d e v i d e n c e was 
t h a t 
when t h e w a t e r h e a t e r was 
i n s t a l l e d i n t h e m o b i l e 
21 
1080261 
home i t s d r a f t h o o d a n d v e n t p i p e a n d t h e p l a s t i c 
p o u c h 
c o n t a i n i n g 
t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
m a n u a l 
were 
m i s s i n g . ' 630 So. 2d a t 1 0 2 3 . 
However, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d 
t h e i r 
m o t i o n , 
a n d t h e y 
r a i s e d 
t h a t 
i s s u e on a p p e a l . 
The p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t ' [ i ] t 
was 
f o r e s e e a b l e ... t h a t t h e p o u c h 
c o n t a i n i n g t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l , as w e l l as t h e d r a f t h o o d a n d 
v e n t p i p e , 
w o u l d be r e m o v e d f r o m t h e w a t e r 
h e a t e r . ' 
630 So. 2d a t 
1027. 
" T h i s C o u r t a g r e e d w i t h t h e p l a i n t i f f s a n d h e l d 
t h a t 
' t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t d i d n o t e r r i n d e n y i n g t h e 
m o t i o n s f o r a [ j u d g m e n t n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e v e r d i c t ] 
on 
t h e b a s i s 
o f a 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
a l t e r a t i o n o f t h e 
p r o d u c t . ' 
630 So. 2d a t 1028. The C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
"'[W]e h o l d 
t h a t t h e c h a n g e s i n t h e w a t e r 
h e a t e r 
e i t h e r 
were 
n o t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
a l t e r a t i o n s o r , i f t h e y were 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
a l t e r a t i o n s , were f o r e s e e a b l e . 
F i r s t , t h e 
e v i d e n c e shows t h a t t h e v e n t p i p e was n o t 
s o l d 
w i t h 
t h e 
w a t e r 
h e a t e r . 
The 
i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l s t a t e s t h a t t h e c u s t o m e r 
must p r o v i d e h i s own v e n t p i p e . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
a b s e n c e o f a v e n t 
p i p e 
c a n n o t be a 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
a l t e r a t i o n 
o f t h e 
p r o d u c t . 
S e c o n d , s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e shows t h a t t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l [and] 
t h e d r a f t h o o d ... 
were d e t a c h a b l e a n d e a s i l y r e m o v e d . 
When 
t h e 
w a t e r h e a t e r was o r i g i n a l l y 
s o l d , t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
m a n u a l 
was 
c o n t a i n e d 
i n a 
p l a s t i c p o u c h a f f i x e d t o t h e w a t e r 
h e a t e r 
by 
a d h e s i v e 
t a p e . 
The 
d r a f t 
h o o d was 
a t t a c h e d b y s l i p p i n g t a b s 
l o c a t e d 
on t h e 
l e g s o f t h e d r a f t h o o d i n t o h o l e s p l a c e d i n 
t h e 
j a c k e t 
t o p c o v e r i n g 
t h e t o p o f t h e 
w a t e r h e a t e r .... Thus, t h e r e m o v a l o f 
t h e 
 
m a n u a l 
[and] t h e d r a f t 
h o o d 
... was a  
f o r e s e e a b l e 
a l t e r a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
w a t e r 
h e a t e r . ' 
"630 
So. 2d a t 1028 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . " 
22 
1080261 
( F o o t n o t e 
o m i t t e d . ) 
Thus, i n H a r r i s , t h e o c c u p a n t s 
o f a 
m o b i l e home were 
i n j u r e d when a w a t e r h e a t e r was 
i m p r o p e r l y 
i n s t a l l e d w i t h o u t a d r a f t h o o d o r v e n t p i p i n g , c a u s i n g 
c a r b o n 
m o n o x i d e t o b u i l d up i n s i d e t h e home. 
We c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e 
m a n u f a c t u r e r 
a n d / o r 
r e t a i l e r 
s h o u l d 
h a v e 
f o r e s e e n 
t h a t 
p o s s i b i l i t y 
b e c a u s e v e n t 
p i p i n g was n o t i n c l u d e d 
w i t h t h e 
w a t e r h e a t e r and t h e i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l and d r a f t h o o d were 
e a s i l y 
s e p a r a b l e 
f r o m t h e w a t e r 
h e a t e r . 
I n t h i s c a s e , h o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e 
c o n v e r s i o n 
o f C a r l ' s 580SK a r e n o t known, t h e r e i s e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e c o n v e r s i o n 
k i t 
d i s t r i b u t e d by CNH 
i n c l u d e d 
t h e 
c o r r e c t c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g t h a t 
s h o u l d be i n s t a l l e d 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
c o n v e r s i o n 
f r o m h a n d c o n t r o l s t o f o o t c o n t r o l s -- u n l i k e 
t h e 
w a t e r 
h e a t e r 
i n H a r r i s , 
w h i c h 
d i d n o t 
i n c l u d e 
t h e 
n e c e s s a r y 
v e n t 
p i p i n g 
-- and t h a t 
t h e i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l 
i n c l u d e d i n t h e k i t d e t a i l e d t h e p r o c e s s n e c e s s a r y t o s w i t c h 
o u t 
t h e c e n t e r i n g 
s p r i n g s . 
CNH 
c o u l d 
n o t h a v e 
r e a s o n a b l y 
f o r e s e e n 
t h a t t h e p e r s o n c o n v e r t i n g t h e 580SK t o f o o t 
c o n t r o l s 
w o u l d 
h a v e 
b o t h : 
(1) 
f a i l e d 
t o 
f o l l o w 
t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s 
i n c l u d e d i n t h e k i t 
f o r a c c o m p l i s h i n g 
t h a t c o n v e r s i o n and (2) 
f a i l e d t o i n s t a l l a n e c e s s a r y p a r t 
t h a t was i n c l u d e d i n 
t h e 
23 
1080261 
c o n v e r s i o n 
k i t . 
See M o r g u s o n v. 
3M 
Co., 
857 
So. 
2d 
796, 
801 
( A l a . 
2003) 
( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
s u b s t a n t i a l m o d i f i c a t i o n 
o f 
m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t 
was 
n o t 
f o r e s e e a b l e 
t o 
t h e 
m a n u f a c t u r e r 
w h e r e , among o t h e r 
t h i n g s , t h e e q u i p m e n t had b e e n i n c o r r e c t l y 
a s s e m b l e d 
and 
t h e 
a s s e m b l e r 
f a i l e d 
t o 
f o l l o w 
h o s p i t a l 
i n s t r u c t i o n s f o r v e r i f y i n g e q u i p m e n t was 
c o r r e c t l y a s s e m b l e d ) . 
See 
a l s o Mendez v. Honda M o t o r Co., 
738 F.Supp. 481, 
484 
(S.D. 
F l a . 
1990) 
( h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
was 
no 
d e s i g n 
d e f e c t 
where 
" [ p ] l a i n t i f f 
c l e a r l y m i s u s e d t h e m o t o r c y c l e by 
i n s t a l l i n g 
t h e 
s h o c k a b s o r b e r s , w i t h o u t 
r e f e r r i n g t o 
t h e o w n e r ' s m a n u a l 
o r 
any 
o t h e r 
s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n , 
u p s i d e down"). 
To 
s u c c e e d on 
any 
o f h e r 
t o r t - b a s e d 
c l a i m s , R o e b u c k 
was 
r e q u i r e d 
t o 
e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t 
C h r i s ' s 
d e a t h 
was 
p r o x i m a t e l y 
c a u s e d by some a c t o f CNH's. 
However, e v e n i f she was 
a b l e 
t o 
e s t a b l i s h t h a t CNH 
was 
g u i l t y o f some n e g l i g e n c e 
o r w a n t o n n e s s 
r e l a t e d t o C a r l ' s 580SK, t h e u n d i s p u t e d e v i d e n c e 
n e v e r t h e l e s s 
i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o f t h e a c c i d e n t 
t h a t l e d t o 
C h r i s ' s d e a t h was 
n o t 
t h a t n e g l i g e n c e 
o r w a n t o n n e s s , b u t 
t h e 
i m p r o p e r m o d i f i c a t i o n o f t h e 580SK when i t was 
c o n v e r t e d f r o m 
h a n d 
c o n t r o l s 
t o 
f o o t 
c o n t r o l s . 
B e c a u s e R o e b u c k 
f a i l e d 
t o 
i n t r o d u c e s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t CNH 
p r o x i m a t e l y 
24 
1080261 
c a u s e d t h e a c c i d e n t l e a d i n g t o C h r i s ' s d e a t h , CNH i s e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w on a l l 
t h e t o r t 
c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d by R o e b u c k . 
See K i n g v. N a t i o n a l Spa & P o o l 
I n s t . , 
 
I n c . , 607 So. 2d 1 2 4 1 , 1247 ( A l a . 1992) ("[W]e n o t e t h a t t h e 
s e t t l e d 
p o l i c y 
o f o u r s y s t e m o f t o r t 
l a w i s t o p l a c e t h e 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
f o r c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r an 
i n j u r y 
on t h e p a r t y 
t h a t p r o x i m a t e l y 
c a u s e s t h e i n j u r y . " ) . 
V. 
R o e b u c k 
s u e d CNH 
a f t e r 
h e r h u s b a n d was 
k i l l e d 
i n an 
a c c i d e n t 
i n v o l v i n g 
a b a c k h o e m a n u f a c t u r e d b y CNH. 
A 
j u r y 
r e t u r n e d 
a 
v e r d i c t 
i n f a v o r 
o f CNH, 
b u t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
o r d e r e d 
a 
new 
t r i a l 
as 
a 
r e s u l t 
o f 
j u r o r 
m i s c o n d u c t . 
On 
a p p e a l , 
CNH 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e x c e e d e d i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i n o r d e r i n g a new 
t r i a l 
o r , i n t h e 
a l t e r n a t i v e , 
t h a t CNH was e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r 
o f l a w . 
We a g r e e t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r e d i n f a i l i n g t o 
e n t e r a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w i n f a v o r o f CNH b e c a u s e 
R o e b u c k ' s 
b r e a c h - o f - w a r r a n t y 
c l a i m 
was 
b a r r e d 
b y 
t h e 
a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s , a n d , i n r e g a r d t o h e r t o r t 
c l a i m s , 
she 
f a i l e d 
t o 
p r e s e n t 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
o f 
p r o x i m a t e 
c a u s a t i o n . 
Our r e s o l u t i o n 
o f t h i s 
i s s u e makes i t 
25 
1080261 
u n n e c e s s a r y f o r 
us t o c o n s i d e r 
w h e t h e r 
t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a l s o 
e x c e e d e d i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n g r a n t i n g R o e b u c k ' s m o t i o n f o r 
a new 
t r i a l . 
The 
j u d g m e n t 
o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i s 
a c c o r d i n g l y 
r e v e r s e d 
and t h e c a u s e 
remanded f o r p r o c e e d i n g s 
c o n s i s t e n t 
w i t h 
t h i s 
o p i n i o n . 
REVERSED AND REMANDED. 
Cobb, C . J . , and L y o n s , 
W o o d a l l , 
S m i t h , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , 
M u r d o c k , and Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
26