Title: Darryl Clayton v. LLB Timber Company, Inc. and William George Henderson

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL: 01/14/11 
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) 
2 2 9 - 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, 2010-2011 
1091427 
D a r r y l C l a y t o n 
v. 
LLB Timber Company, Inc., 
and W i l l i a m George Henderson 
Appeal from Montgomery C i r c u i t 
Court 
(CV-08-1517) 
LYONS, 
J u s t i c e . 
D a r r y l 
C l a y t o n 
a p p e a l s 
f r o m a j u d g m e n t 
e n t e r e d 
upon a 
j u r y 
v e r d i c t 
i n f a v o r o f L L B T i m b e r Company, I n c . 
("LLB 
T i m b e r " ) , a n d 
W i l l i a m G e o r g e H e n d e r s o n on C l a y t o n ' s 
n e g l i g e n c e 
c l a i m s a g a i n s t them. 
C l a y t o n c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
1091427 
i m p r o p e r l y 
c h a r g e d t h e j u r y r e g a r d i n g 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e a n d 
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 C l a y t o n ' s 
m o t i o n f o r 
a 
new 
t r i a l . 
We 
r e v e r s e . 
F a c t u a l B a c k g r o u n d a n d P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
On O c t o b e r 2 3 , 2006, C l a y t o n , a c o m m e r c i a l t r u c k 
d r i v e r 
d e l i v e r i n g a l o a d 
f r o m 
C h i c a g o , 
I l l i n o i s , 
t o 
T a l l a h a s s e e , 
F l o r i d a , s t o p p e d a t a t r u c k s t o p i n 
Hope H u l l . 
A f t e r 
C l a y t o n 
p a r k e d h i s t r u c k , he t o o k a nap i n 
t h e b a c k o f i t s c a b , where 
he 
h a d bunk 
b e d s 
f o r t h a t 
p u r p o s e . 
Some 
t i m e 
l a t e r , 
H e n d e r s o n , a c o m m e r c i a l t r u c k d r i v e r f o r 
LLB T i m b e r , d r o v e 
h i s 
t r u c k t o t h e same t r u c k 
s t o p i n Hope H u l l . 
H e n d e r s o n p a r k e d 
h i s 
t r u c k , 
l e f t t h e e n g i n e r u n n i n g , a n d went i n t o t h e s t o r e o f 
t h e 
t r u c k 
s t o p t o b u y a d r i n k . 
H e n d e r s o n 
t e s t i f i e d a t 
t r i a l 
t h a t when he p a r k e d t h e t r u c k he s e t t h e b r a k e s ; he 
s t a t e d 
t h a t he r e c a l l e d 
h e a r i n g t h e d i s t i n c t p o p p i n g s o u n d made b y 
t h e a i r 
b r a k e s on t h e t r u c k when t h e p a r k i n g 
b r a k e i s s e t . 
The 
b r a k e s 
on H e n d e r s o n ' s 
t r u c k 
w e r e new; t h e y h a d b e e n 
i n s t a l l e d 
j u s t 
a f e w weeks 
b e f o r e . 
I n s i d e 
t h e 
s t o r e , 
H e n d e r s o n c h o s e a d r i n k a n d went t o 
p a y t h e c l e r k . 
On h i s 
way 
t o t h e c o u n t e r , he g l a n c e d o u t 
t h e d o o r a n d saw t h a t h i s t r u c k 
was gone. 
H e n d e r s o n s t a t e d t h a t he i m m e d i a t e l y l e f t t h e s t o r e 
2 
1091427 
t o 
see what had 
h a p p e n e d . 
He 
saw 
t h a t 
h i s t r u c k had 
r o l l e d 
a c r o s s 
t h e 
p a r k i n g 
l o t t o where C l a y t o n ' s 
t r u c k was 
p a r k e d . 
C l a y t o n 
t e s t i f i e d 
a t 
t r i a l 
t h a t 
he 
had 
j u s t awaked f r o m 
h i s 
nap when he 
f e l t 
two 
j o l t s . 
He 
l o o k e d 
o u t 
t h e window o f 
h i s 
t r u c k and 
saw 
t h a t h i s t r u c k had b e e n s t r u c k by a n o t h e r 
t r u c k . 
On 
S e p t e m b e r 
30, 
2008, 
C l a y t o n 
s u e d 
LLB 
T i m b e r 
and 
H e n d e r s o n 
i n 
t h e 
M o n t g o m e r y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t , 
s t a t i n g 
c l a i m s 
b a s e d 
on 
s e v e r a l 
t h e o r i e s 
o f 
n e g l i g e n c e 
and 
w a n t o n n e s s 
and 
s e e k i n g 
r e c o v e r y 
f o r i n j u r i e s 
C l a y t o n 
c l a i m e d 
he 
r e c e i v e d 
as 
a 
r e s u l t 
o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t .
1 
M o s t 
o f 
t h e 
f a c t s 
p r e s e n t e d 
a t 
t r i a l were d i s p u t e d . 
C l a y t o n 
c l a i m e d 
t h a t he s u f f e r e d 
s e r i o u s 
i n j u r i e s 
t o h i s b a c k , n e c k , and 
l e f t 
s h o u l d e r 
as 
a r e s u l t 
o f 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
H e n d e r s o n 
and 
LLB 
T i m b e r 
m a i n t a i n e d 
t h a t 
C l a y t o n 
was 
m a l i n g e r i n g 
and 
t h a t he 
s u f f e r e d o n l y m i n o r o r 
no 
i n j u r i e s . C l a y t o n a r g u e d t h a t H e n d e r s o n had n e g l i g e n t l y 
f a i l e d 
t o 
s e t 
t h e 
b r a k e s 
on 
h i s 
t r u c k . 
H e n d e r s o n 
t e s t i f i e d 
r e p e a t e d l y 
t h a t he was 
c e r t a i n t h a t he had 
s e t t h e b r a k e s 
and 
t h a t 
he 
d i d 
n o t 
know what 
had 
c a u s e d 
h i s 
t r u c k 
t o 
r o l l . 
H e n d e r s o n a l s o s t a t e d t h a t he had n o t e x p e r i e n c e d any p r o b l e m s 
1 C l a y t o n 
a l s o s u e d I n d u s T r e e T i m b e r , I n c . , b u t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
a summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r 
o f 
t h a t 
d e f e n d a n t 
b e f o r e 
t r i a l . 
C l a y t o n 
has 
n o t 
a p p e a l e d f r o m t h a t 
j u d g m e n t . 
3 
1091427 
w i t h 
t h e 
b r a k e s 
on 
h i s 
t r u c k 
b e f o r e 
o r 
a f t e r t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
H e n d e r s o n ' s 
s u p e r v i s o r , 
C r a i g 
N i c h o l s , 
a 
c e r t i f i e d 
t r u c k 
i n s p e c t o r , t e s t i f i e d t h a t he i n s p e c t e d H e n d e r s o n ' s t r u c k a f t e r 
t h e a c c i d e n t 
and 
d i d n o t 
f i n d a n y t h i n g w r o n g w i t h t h e 
b r a k e s . 
N i c h o l s 
a l s o 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
he 
had 
t r i e d 
t o 
r e c r e a t e 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t , 
i . e . , c a u s e t h e 
t r u c k t o 
r o l l 
w i t h t h e b r a k e s 
s e t , 
b u t 
was 
u n a b l e t o do 
s o . 
O v e r C l a y t o n ' s 
o b j e c t i o n , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
i n i t s 
o r a l 
c h a r g e t o t h e 
j u r y , gave t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
i n s t r u c t i o n : 
" I t 
i s t h e d u t y o f t h e owner o r t h e o p e r a t o r 
o f 
a m o t o r v e h i c l e t o 
see 
t h a t 
i t i s r e a s o n a b l y 
s a f e 
and 
i n a r e a s o n a b l y 
s a f e c o n d i t i o n b e f o r e 
o p e r a t i n g 
i t on a p u b l i c h i g h w a y ; w h e r e , h o w e v e r , t h e owner o r 
o p e r a t o r 
o f 
t h e 
v e h i c l e 
w i t h o u t 
k n o w l e d g e 
o f 
a 
d e f e c t i v e 
c o n d i t i o n , 
known 
o r 
r e a s o n a b l y 
f o r e s e e a b l e , e x p e r i e n c e s 
m e c h a n i c a l f a i l u r e and 
s u c h 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
i s t h e 
s o l e p r o x i m a t e 
c a u s e 
o f 
t h e 
i n j u r y 
o r damage, t h e owner o r 
o p e r a t o r 
c a n n o t 
be 
h e l d 
l i a b l e 
t h e r e f o r . " 
A l a b a m a 
P a t t e r n 
J u r y 
I n s t r u c t i o n s : 
C i v i l 
("APJI") 
26.14 
( m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e ) ( 2 d e d . 1 9 9 3 ) . C l a y t o n ' s 
o b j e c t i o n t o 
t h e 
c h a r g e 
was 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o 
p r e s e r v e 
any 
e r r o r . 
The 
j u r y 
s u b s e q u e n t l 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 H e n d e r s o n and 
LLB 
T i m b e r , and t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d 
a j u d g m e n t on t h e v e r d i c t . 
C l a y t o n moved f o r a new 
t r i a l 
and, 
a l t e r n a t i v e l y , 
t o 
v a c a t e 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t . 
He 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i m p r o p e r l y 
4 
1091427 
c h a r g e d 
t h e 
j u r y 
on 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e , 
t h a t 
t h e 
j u r y ' s 
v e r d i c t was 
n o t s u p p o r t e d by a p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e 
e v i d e n c e , 
and 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 g r a n t C l a y t o n ' 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 and, 
s u b s e q u e n t l y , 
h i s 
m o t i o n 
f o r a 
new 
t r i a l . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d 
t h e 
m o t i o n s , 
and C l a y t o n 
a p p e a l e d . 
A n a l y s i s 
On a p p e a l C l a y t o n a r g u e s , as he d i d b e l o w , t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i m p r o p e r l y 
i n s t r u c t e d 
t h e 
j u r y 
r e g a r d i n g 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e , 
t h a t 
t h e 
j u r y ' s 
v e r d i c t 
was 
n o t 
s u p p o r t e d 
by 
a 
p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e e v i d e n c e , and 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 
g r a n t 
C l a y t o n ' 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 and, 
s u b s e q u e n t l y , h i s m o t i o n 
f o r a new 
t r i a l . 
T h i s C o u r t has 
s t a t e d : 
"'A 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
has 
b r o a d 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i n 
f o r m u l a t i n g 
i t s j u r y 
i n s t r u c t i o n s , 
p r o v i d e d 
t h o s e 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
a c c u r a t e l y 
r e f l e c t 
t h e 
l a w 
and 
t h e 
f a c t s 
o f t h e 
c a s e . ' 
P r e s s l e y v. 
S t a t e , 770 
So. 
2d 
115, 
139 
( A l a . C r i m . 
App. 
1 9 9 9 ) . 
Thus, 
' g e n e r a l l y 
s p e a k i n g , 
t h e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w 
f o r 
j u r y 
i n s t r u c t i o n s i s a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n . ' P o l l o c k v. 
CCC 
 
I n v s . 
I , LLC, 
933 
So. 
2d 
572, 
574 
( F l a . D i s t . 
C t . 
App. 
2 
0 
0 
6 ) . " 
A r t h u r v. B o l e n , 41 So. 
3d 745, 
749 
( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
a l s o 
s t a t e d : 
5 
1091427 
"Under A l a b a m a l a w , ' " [ a ] p a r t y i s e n t i t l e d t o 
p r o p e r 
j u r y 
i n s t r u c t i o n s 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
i s s u e s 
p r e s e n t e d , and an i n c o r r e c t o r m i s l e a d i n g c h a r g e may 
be t h e b a s i s f o r t h e g r a n t i n g o f a new 
t r i a l . " ' 
K i n g  
v. W.A. 
Brown & S o n s , I n c . , 585 So. 2d 10, 12 ( A l a . 
1991) 
( c i t a t i o n 
o m i t t e d ) . When an 
o b j e c t i o n t o a 
j u r y c h a r g e has b e e n p r o p e r l y p r e s e r v e d 
f o r r e v i e w 
on 
a p p e a l , 
as 
t h i s 
one 
was, 
we 
' " l o o k 
t o 
t h e 
e n t i r e t y o f t h e [ j u r y ] c h a r g e t o see i f t h e r e 
was 
r e v e r s i b l e 
e r r o r , " ' and r e v e r s a l i s w a r r a n t e d 
o n l y 
i f 
t h e e r r o r i s p r e j u d i c i a l . 
K i n g , 
585 So. 2d a t 
12." 
G e o r g e H. L a n i e r Mem'l Hosp. v. A n d r e w s , 809 So. 2d 802, 806 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 1 ) . 
C l a y t o n c o n c e d e s t h a t t h e m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e i n s t r u c t i o n 
g i v e n by t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t i s a c o r r e c t s t a t e m e n t o f t h e l a w . 
He a r g u e s , 
h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e r r e d i n g i v i n g t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n b e c a u s e , he s a y s , t h e r e was 
i n s u f f i c i e n t 
e v i d e n c e 
o f m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e t o s u p p o r t s u c h an i n s t r u c t i o n . 
C l a y t o n 
c i t e s t h e " n o t e s 
on u s e " t o A P J I 26.14, w h i c h s t a t e t h a t t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n i s : "To be u s e d i n c a s e s where d e f e n d a n t 
o f f e r s 
 
e v i d e n c e 
o f m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e as a d e f e n s e t o t h e a c t i o n . " 
( E m p h a s i s 
added.) 
C l a y t o n 
a l s o 
r e l i e s 
on 
t h i s 
C o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n s i n P h i l l i p s v. S e w a r d , [Ms. 1081226, J u n e 25, 2010] 
So. 3d 
( A l a . 
2 0 1 0 ) , and F r i e d l a n d e r v . H a l l , 514 So. 
2d 914 
( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) . 
6 
1091427 
I n 
P h i l l i p s , 
t h e p l a i n t i f f , 
M a r y 
N e l l 
P h i l l i p s , 
was 
i n v o l v e d i n a c a r a c c i d e n t 
w i t h a v e h i c l e d r i v e n by James 
T r a v i s 
S e w a r d 
who, 
w h i l e 
d r i v i n g 
a 
t r u c k 
owned 
b y h i s 
e m p l o y e r , 
H e a r t l a n d 
E x p r e s s , 
I n c . , s t r u c k 
t h e b a c k 
o f 
P h i l l i p s ' s 
v e h i c l e a f t e r 
P h i l l i p s h a d r o l l e d 
f o r w a r d 
s l i g h t l y 
i n a m e r g i n g 
l a n e and t h e n come t o a s t o p . 
P h i l l i p s 
s u e d 
S e w a r d a n d H e a r t l a n d 
E x p r e s s , 
I n c . , 
and t h e j u r y 
e n t e r e d a 
v e r d i c t f o r 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s . 
On a p p e a l , 
P h i l l i p s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t h a d e r r o n e o u s l y i n s t r u c t e d t h e j u r y 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
d o c t r i n e 
o f 
c o n t r i b u t o r y 
n e g l i g e n c e . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
P h i l l i p s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
" 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 
t h a t 
t h e a c c i d e n t 
i n w h i c h 
she was 
i n j u r e d was a t l e a s t p a r t l y t h e r e s u l t o f h e r own 
n e g l i g e n c e 
and 
t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a c c o r d i n g l y e r r e d by c h a r g i n g t h e 
j u r y on c o n t r i b u t o r y n e g l i g e n c e . " ___ So. 3d a t ___ . 
C o n c l u d i n g 
t h a t 
P h i l l i p s 
h a d p r o p e r l y 
o b j e c t e d t o t h e 
c o n t r i b u t o r y - n e g l i g e n c e i n s t r u c t i o n , 
t h i s C o u r t s t a t e d : "[W]e 
must 
d e t e r m i n e 
w h e t h e r , 
i n 
f a c t , 
t h e r e 
was 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
P h i l l i p s 
was i n some way n e g l i g e n t so as t o 
j u s t i f y 
t h e 
g i v i n g 
o f 
t h e 
c h a l l e n g e d 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
on 
c o n t r i b u t o r y n e g l i g e n c e . " 
___ So. 3d a t ___ 
. T h i s C o u r t 
t h e n 
7 
1091427 
s t a t e d 
t h e 
l a w 
r e g a r d i n g 
c o n t r i b u t o r y 
n e g l i g e n c e 
and 
n o t e d 
t h a t c o n t r i b u t o r y n e g l i g e n c e 
was 
an a f f i r m a t i v e d e f e n s e as 
t o 
w h i c h t h e d e f e n d a n t had 
t h e b u r d e n o f p r o o f . 
A f t e r e x a m i n i n g 
t h e e v i d e n c e , 
t h i s C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s had 
n o t 
p r e s e n t e d 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
P h i l l i p s 
had 
a c t e d 
n e g l i g e n t l y and, 
t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t had 
e r r e d i n 
i n s t r u c t i n g 
t h e 
j u r y on 
t h e 
d o c t r i n e . 
T h i s 
C o u r t f o u n d 
t h e 
e r r o r p r e j u d i c i a l and r e v e r s e d t h e j u d g m e n t f o r t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
and remanded t h e c a u s e f o r a new 
t r i a l . 
I n F r i e d l a n d e r , A m e l i a F r i e d l a n d e r ' s 
v e h i c l e was 
s t r u c k 
f r o m t h e 
r e a r by 
a v e h i c l e d r i v e n by M a r y A l y c e 
H a l l . 
H a l l 
t e s t i f i e d a t t r i a l t h a t she d i d n o t see F r i e d l a n d e r ' s v e h i c l e , 
w h i c h was 
s t o p p e d i n t r a f f i c , 
u n t i l t h e v e h i c l e b e t w e e n H a l l ' s 
v e h i c l e 
and 
F r i e d l a n d e r ' s 
v e h i c l e 
t u r n e d 
t o 
t h e 
r i g h t 
and 
t h a t , 
by 
t h a t 
t i m e , 
i t 
was 
t o o 
l a t e 
f o r 
h e r 
t o 
s t o p . 
F r i e d l a n d e r 
s u e d 
H a l l , 
and, 
a t 
t r i a l , 
o v e r 
F r i e d l a n d e r ' s 
o b j e c t i o n , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n s t r u c t e d t h e 
j u r y r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
s u d d e n - e m e r g e n c y d o c t r i n e . 
The 
j u r y s u b s e q u e n t l y r e n d e r e d 
a 
v e r d i c t 
f o r H a l l , 
and 
F r i e d l a n d e r 
a p p e a l e d . 
T h i s C o u r t n o t e d t h a t F r i e d l a n d e r d i d n o t " a r g u e t h a t 
t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n g i v e n was 
an i n c o r r e c t s t a t e m e n t o f l a w , b u t 
[ d i d ] 
8 
1091427 
c o n t e n d t h a t i t was 
i m p r o p e r 
f o r t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t t o g i v e 
t h i s 
c h a r g e i n t h i s c a s e . " 
514 So. 2d a t 915. 
T h i s C o u r t e x a m i n e d 
t h e f a c t s o f t h e c a s e and 
c o n c l u d e d : 
"From o u r r e v i e w o f t h e r e c o r d , we a r e u n a b l e t o 
d e t e c t any 
e v i d e n c e 
t o s u p p o r t 
t h e c o n t e n t i o n t h a t 
t h i s c a s e i n v o l v e d a s u d d e n e m e r g e n c y . T h e r e was 
no 
u n u s u a l 
o r 
s u d d e n 
o c c u r r e n c e 
t h a t 
a 
d r i v e r 
on 
a 
c r o w d e d m u n i c i p a l 
s t r e e t 
s h o u l d 
n o t 
a n t i c i p a t e 
o r 
e x p e c t 
i n t h e 
o r d i n a r y c o u r s e 
o f 
c o n g e s t e d 
u r b a n 
t r a v e l . C o n s e q u e n t l y , we a r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e 
j u r y 
was 
e r r o n e o u s l y 
i n s t r u c t e d 
on 
t h e 
s u d d e n 
e m e r g e n c y 
d o c t r i n e . 
"We 
a r e m i n d f u l t h a t j u r y v e r d i c t s a r e p r e s u m e d 
t o 
be 
c o r r e c t , 
and 
t h a t 
t h e 
p r e s u m p t i o n 
o f 
c o r r e c t n e s s 
i s s t r e n g t h e n e d where 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e s a m o t i o n 
f o r new 
t r i a l . G u t h r i e v. M c C a u l e y , 
376 
So. 
2d 1373 
( A l a . 1 9 7 9 ) . However, h a v i n g 
f o u n d 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , u n d e r 
t h e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
o f 
t h i s c a s e , c o m m i t t e d 
r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r by 
i n s t r u c t i n g 
t h e 
j u r y 
on s u d d e n e m e r g e n c y , we 
n e e d n o t 
a d d r e s s 
t h e 
i s s u e 
o f 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
d e n i a l 
o f 
M r s . 
F r i e d l a n d e r ' s 
m o t i o n 
f o r new 
t r i a l 
on 
t h e 
g r o u n d 
t h a t t h e v e r d i c t was 
n o t s u p p o r t e d by t h e 
e v i d e n c e . 
" T h e r e f o r e , t h e 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 
t o 
be 
r e v e r s e d 
and 
t h e 
c a u s e 
remanded 
f o r a 
new 
t r i a l . " 
514 
So. 
2d a t 916. 
See 
a l s o J o n e s 
v. L y o n s , 
540 
So. 
2d 
729 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) ( r e a c h i n g t h e same c o n c l u s i o n i n n e a r l y 
i d e n t i c a l 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
i n v o l v i n g 
a 
j u r y 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
on 
t h e 
s u d d e n -
e m e r g e n c y 
d o c t r i n e ) . 
9 
1091427 
B a s e d 
on 
t h i s 
C o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n s 
i n 
P h i l l i p s 
and 
F r i e d l a n d e r 
and 
on t h e comments t o A P J I 26.14, C l a y t o n 
a r g u e s 
t h a t H e n d e r s o n and 
LLB 
T i m b e r 
f a i l e d t o p r e s e n t any 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
had 
o c c u r r e d 
and 
t h a t , 
t h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
had 
no b a s i s 
on w h i c h t o 
i n s t r u c t 
t h e 
j u r y 
r e g a r d i n g 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e . 
H e n d e r s o n 
and 
LLB 
T i m b e r a r g u e t h a t H e n d e r s o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t he 
s e t t h e 
b r a k e s 
and 
t h a t - - i f 
h i s 
t e s t i m o n y 
i s 
t o 
be 
b e l i e v e d - - t h e r e 
i s 
no 
o t h e r 
e x p l a n a t i o n 
f o r 
t h e 
m o v i n g 
o f 
h i s 
t r u c k 
t h a n 
t h a t 
a 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
o c c u r r e d . 
B a s e d 
on 
t h i s 
r e a s o n i n g , 
H e n d e r s o n 
and 
LLB 
T i m b e r 
c o n t e n d 
t h a t 
t h e y 
d i d 
p r e s e n t 
s u f f i c i e n t 
e v i d e n c e 
o f 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
s u p p o r t 
t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n . 
H e n d e r s o n and h i s s u p e r v i s o r , N i c h o l s , t e s t i f i e d t h a t 
t h e 
b r a k e s 
on 
H e n d e r s o n ' s 
t r u c k were new 
and 
t h a t 
t h e y had 
n o t 
p r e s e n t e d any p r o b l e m s b e f o r e 
t h e a c c i d e n t . 
H e n d e r s o n 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
he 
d i d n o t h a v e any 
p r o b l e m s w i t h 
t h e b r a k e s 
a f t e r 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t 
and 
t h a t he was 
c e r t a i n t h a t he s e t t h e p a r k i n g 
b r a k e 
on 
h i s t r u c k . 
He 
a l s o 
t e s t i f i e d r e p e a t e d l y 
t h a t 
he 
d i d 
n o t 
know what had h a p p e n e d t o c a u s e t h e 
t r u c k t o 
r o l l . 
N i c h o l s 
t e s t i f i e d t h a t he c o u l d n o t 
f i n d a n y t h i n g w r o n g w i t h t h e b r a k e 
10 
1091427 
s y s t e m o r w i t h any o t h e r p a r t o f t h e t r u c k . 
N i c h o l s 
f u r t h e r 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
he 
c o u l d 
n o t 
r e c r e a t e 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
o t h e r t h a n t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a c c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d , 
t h e r e was no e v i d e n c e t o i n d i c a t e t h a t a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
o c c u r r e d . 
H e n d e r s o n and LLB T i m b e r 
r e l y on K i n a r d v . C a r t e r , 518 
So. 
2d 1248 
( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) . 
I n K i n a r d , 
J a c k 
C a r t e r ' s 
v e h i c l e 
s t r u c k an o b j e c t on t h e i n t e r s t a t e , c a u s i n g a t i r e on C a r t e r ' s 
v e h i c l e 
t o b l o w o u t . 
H i s v e h i c l e 
t h e n 
c r o s s e d 
f r o m t h e 
n o r t h b o u n d l a n e t o t h e s o u t h b o u n d l a n e o f t h e i n t e r s t a t e and 
s t r u c k 
a 
v e h i c l e 
d r i v e n 
b y 
V a l e r i e 
K i n a r d 
i n w h i c h h e r 
h u s b a n d , O l i s , was a p a s s e n g e r . 
The K i n a r d s s u e d C a r t e r a n d , 
a t 
t r i a l , t h e c o u r t 
i n s t r u c t e d t h e j u r y r e g a r d i n g 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e . 
The j u r y 
r e t u r n e d a v e r d i c t f o r C a r t e r , and t h e 
K i n a r d s 
a p p e a l e d . 
On 
a p p e a l , 
among 
s e v e r a l 
o t h e r 
a r g u m e n t s , t h e 
K i n a r d s 
a r g u e d t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e r r e d i n i n s t r u c t i n g t h e j u r y on 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e . 
T h i s C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
"The 
e v i d e n c e 
i s 
w i t h o u t 
d i s p u t e 
t h a t 
d e f e n d a n t ' s c a r was e q u i p p e d 
w i t h 
f o u r new 
t i r e s , 
t h a t 
a t 
l e a s t 
one o f t h e s e 
t i r e s 
'blew o u t ' o r 
f a i l e d 
when 
t h e 
o b j e c t 
was 
s t r u c k , 
and 
t h a t 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
c a r 
l e f t 
t h e 
h i g h w a y 
i m m e d i a t e l y 
t h e r e a f t e r a n d s t r u c k p l a i n t i f f s ' v e h i c l e . Thus, t h e 
11 
1091427 
d e f e n d a n t 
e x p e r i e n c e d a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e . 
I t 
was 
f o r 
t h e 
j u r y 
t o 
d e c i d e 
w h e t h e r 
t h a t 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e , 
o r some n e g l i g e n c e o f t h e d e f e n d a n t , 
was 
t h e p r o x i m a t e c a u s e o f p l a i n t i f f s ' 
i n j u r i e s . 
H o w e l l  
v. B i r m i n g h a m 
N e h i 
B o t t l i n g Co., 
267 A l a . 290, 
101 
So. 2d 297 
( 1 9 5 8 ) . " 
518 So. 2d a t 1251. 
I n K i n a r d , t h e r e f o r e , t h e e v i d e n c e showed 
t h a t C a r t e r ' s new 
t i r e had 
a c t u a l l y 
f a i l e d . 
K i n a r d i s t h u s 
d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m t h i s c a s e b e c a u s e t h e d e f e n d a n t i n K i n a r d 
p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e s h o w i n g 
t h a t a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e had i n 
f a c t o c c u r r e d . 
I n t h i s c a s e , as s t a t e d a b o v e , 
o t h e r t h a n t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t 
t h e 
a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d , t h e r e was 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
t o 
i n d i c a t e t h a t a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e o c c u r r e d . 
H e n d e r s o n 
and 
LLB 
T i m b e r 
n e x t 
c i t e 
two 
c a s e s 
f o r t h e 
p r o p o s i t i o n 
t h a t t h e m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
d i d n o t 
assume f a c t s o r i m p r o p e r l y l e a d t h e j u r y t o a c o n c l u s i o n 
o f 
f a c t : S m i t h v. P i e r c e , 273 A l a . 321, 323, 
134 So. 2d 2 0 1 , 
203 
( 1 9 6 1 ) ( s t a t i n g , 
i n a c a s e 
i n w h i c h 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
s u e d 
h e r 
l a n d l o r d 
f o r f a i l i n g 
t o r e p a i r 
h e r 
r a d i a t o r , 
t h a t 
a 
c h a r g e 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f was 
n o t r e q u i r e d t o s t a y i n h e r 
a p a r t m e n t 
a f t e r h e r l e a s e e x p i r e d " m i g h t h a v e b e e n r e f u s e d b e c a u s e i t i s 
t h e 
s t a t e m e n t 
o f 
an 
a b s t r a c t 
p r i n c i p l e 
o f 
l a w 
w i t h o u t 
i n s t r u c t i n g t h e j u r y as t o i t s e f f e c t i n d e c i d i n g t h e 
i s s u e s 
b e f o r e 
them, 
b u t 
i t i s 
a 
c o r r e c t 
s t a t e m e n t 
o f 
a 
l e g a l 
12 
1091427 
p r i n c i p l e , u n n e c e s s a r y 
t o s t a t e , b u t n o t r e v e r s i b l e 
e r r o r 
t o 
do s o " ) , and H o w e l l v. B i r m i n g h a m N e h i B o t t l i n g Co., 
267 A l a . 
290, 293-94, 101 So. 2d 297, 299-300 ( 1 9 5 8 ) ( s t a t i n g r e g a r d i n g 
a 
m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e 
i n s t r u c t i o n where 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
showed 
t h a t a g a s k e t 
i n t h e 
r i g h t 
f r o n t w h e e l 
had r u p t u r e d : "We 
do 
n o t 
f i n d 
t h a t 
t h e 
f a c t s 
s t a t e d 
a r e assumed b u t 
t h e 
c h a r g e 
h y p o t h e s i z e s t h o s e f a c t s on t h e r e a s o n a b l e s a t i s f a c t i o n 
f r o m 
t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e i r 
e x i s t e n c e . 
... 
I t i s s a i d 
t h a t s u c h a 
c h a r g e 
g i v e s undue p r o m i n e n c e t o one 
p h a s e o f t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
w h i c h 
w o u l d 
j u s t i f y 
i t s r e f u s a l , 
b u t 
i t i s 
n o t 
o f 
s u c h 
c h a r a c t e r 
as 
t o 
r e q u i r e 
a 
r e v e r s a l 
f o r g i v i n g 
i t . " ) . 
We 
d i s a g r e e . 
The 
m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e 
i n s t r u c t i o n h e r e was 
n o t a 
c h a r g e 
r e g a r d i n g an 
a b s t r a c t 
p r i n c i p l e 
o f l a w 
as 
i n 
S m i t h . 
And 
i n H o w e l l , t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
" h y p o t h e s i z e [ d ] ... 
f a c t s 
on 
t h e 
r e a s o n a b l e 
s a t i s f a c t i o n 
f r o m 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
o f 
t h e i r 
e x i s t e n c e , " i . e . , 
e v i d e n c e t h a t a g a s k e t had i n f a c t r u p t u r e d . 
267 
A l a . 
a t 
293, 
101 
So. 
2d 
a t 
300. 
As 
s t a t e d 
a b o v e , 
H e n d e r s o n and LLB T i m b e r p r e s e n t e d no e v i d e n c e f r o m w h i c h 
t h e 
f a c t 
o f a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
c o u l d be 
" h y p o t h e s i z e d " o t h e r 
t h a n t h e f a c t o f t h e a c c i d e n t . 
13 
1091427 
When 
c o n s i d e r i n g 
c l a i m s 
u n d e r 
A l a b a m a ' s 
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 
("the AEMLD"), 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
h e l d 
t h a t a p l a i n t i f f 
must p r o v e t h e e x i s t e n c e 
o f t h e 
f a i l u r e o r d e f e c t ; t h e p l a i n t i f f 
c a n n o t 
r e l y 
s o l e l y on t h e 
f a c t t h a t an a c c i d e n t 
o c c u r r e d . 
S e e , e . g . , T a y l o r v . G e n e r a l  
M o t o r s C o r p . , 707 So. 2d 198, 202 ( A l a . 1997) ( r e q u i r i n g 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f i n an a c t i o n b r o u g h t u n d e r t h e 
AEMLD t o " p r o v e t h e 
e x i s t e n c e o f a d e f e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n a n d p r o v e t h a t t h e d e f e c t 
p r o x i m a t e l y 
c a u s e d h i s i n j u r i e s , " 
a n d n o t i n g t h e e r r o r i n 
" a l l o w i n g a j u r y t o i n f e r 
t h a t a p r o d u c t i s d e f e c t i v e 
s o l e l y 
f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t i t f a i l e d i n some m a n n e r " ) ; Townsend v .  
G e n e r a l M o t o r s C o r p . , 642 So. 2d 4 1 1 , 
415 ( A l a . 1994) ( s t a t i n g 
i n an AEMLD 
a c t i o n : 
" [ T ] h e 
f a i l u r e 
o f a p r o d u c t 
d o e s n o t 
p r e s u p p o s e t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a d e f e c t . P r o o f o f an a c c i d e n t a n d 
i n j u r y i s n o t i n i t s e l f 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o e s t a b l i s h 
l i a b i l i t y 
u n d e r t h e 
AEMLD; a d e f e c t i n 
t h e 
p r o d u c t must be a f f i r m a t i v e l y 
s h o w n . " ) ; J o r d a n v. G e n e r a l M o t o r s C o r p . , 581 So. 2d 835, 837 
( A l a . 1991) ("Because J o r d a n p r e s e n t e d no e v i d e n c e o t h e r 
t h a n 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
she 
r e c e i v e d 
i n j u r i e s 
as a 
r e s u l t o f an 
a u t o m o b i l e a c c i d e n t w h i l e w e a r i n g a GM s e a t b e l t , we h o l d 
t h a t 
she d i d 
n o t 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 s u p p o r t a c l a i m 
14 
1091427 
u n d e r t h e AEMLD."). 
We 
b e l i e v e t h a t a d e f e n d a n t 
a s s e r t i n g a 
d e f e n s e o f m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e s h o u l d n o t be h e l d t o a 
l e s s e r 
b u r d e n . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t 
an 
a c c i d e n t o c c u r r e d , 
s t a n d i n g 
a l o n e , i s n o t 
s u f f i c i e n t 
e v i d e n c e 
o f a 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
s u p p o r t 
t h e 
i n s t r u c t i o n . 
I t was 
i n c u m b e n t 
on 
H e n d e r s o n and LLB T i m b e r 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 
t h a t 
a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e i n f a c t o c c u r r e d . 
B e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t 
do s o , 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 i n s t r u c t i n g 
t h e j u r y r e g a r d i n g m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e . 
F i n a l l y , H e n d e r s o n and LLB T i m b e r a r g u e t h a t any e r r o r i n 
t h e m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e i n s t r u c t i o n was n o t p r e j u d i c i a l b e c a u s e 
t h e y 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 t h e 
j u r y t o s u p p o r t 
a 
v e r d i c t f o r t h e d e f e n s e on o t h e r g r o u n d s . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
t h e y 
r e l y on e v i d e n c e f r o m w h i c h t h e j u r y c o u l d have c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
C l a y t o n was 
m a l i n g e r i n g . 
However, t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
h a v e 
n o t 
a r g u e d o r shown t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e o f m a l i n g e r i n g e n t i t l e d them 
t o a j u d g m e n t i n t h e i r f a v o r , i n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e 
e r r o n e o u s 
i n s t r u c t i o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , t h e e v i d e n c e o f m a l i n g e r i n g p r e s e n t e d 
by t h e d e f e n d a n t s does n o t a l l o w us t o t r e a t t h e g i v i n g o f t h e 
e r r o n e o u s 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
as 
h a r m l e s s 
e r r o r . 
We 
d e c l i n e 
t o 
s p e c u l a t e 
t h a t 
t h e 
j u r y 
r e a c h e d 
i t s v e r d i c t 
s o l e l y 
on 
t h e 
15 
1091427 
b a s i s o f e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
C l a y t o n 
was 
m a l i n g e r i n g . 
F o r 
a l l t h a t a p p e a r s , t h e v e r d i c t i n f a v o r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
was 
b a s e d 
on 
t h e 
p r e j u d i c i a l 
e f f e c t 
o f 
t h e 
e r r o n e o u s 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
t h a t p r e v e n t e d t h e j u r y f r o m f i n d i n g i n f a v o r o f 
C l a y t o n i f 
i t 
f o u n d t h a t t h e m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e was t h e s o l 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 and C l a y t o n ' s 
i n j u r i e s . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , 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 i n s t r u c t i n g 
t h e j u r y 
r e g a r d i n g 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
b e c a u s e t h e d e f e n d a n t s d i d 
n o t p r e s e n t a n y e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t 
a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e h a d o c c u r r e d . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
we 
r e v e r s e 
t h e j u d g m e n t and remand t h e c a u s e f o r a new 
t r i a l . 
Our 
h o l d i n g 
i n 
t h i s 
r e g a r d 
p r e t e r m i t s 
c o n s i d e r a t i o n 
o f 
C l a y t o n ' s 
r e m a i n i n g 
a r g u m e n t s on 
a p p e a l . 
REVERSED AND REMANDED. 
Cobb, C . J . , 
and W o o d a l l , S t u a r t , B o l i n , P a r k e r , and Shaw, 
J J . , 
c o n c u r . 
M u r d o c k , J . , d i s s e n t s . 
16 
1091427 
MURDOCK, J u s t i c e 
( d i s s e n t i n g ) . 
D a r r y l 
C l a y t o n 
c i t e s 
t h e 
" n o t e s 
on 
u s e " 
t o 
A l a b a m a 
 
P a t t e r n J u r y 
I n s t r u c t i o n s : C i v i l § 26.14 
(2d e d . 1 9 9 3 ) , 
w h i c h 
s t a t e t h a t a m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e 
i n s t r u c t i o n i s : 
"To be 
u s e d 
i n c a s e s where d e f e n d a n t o f f e r s e v i d e n c e o f m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
as 
a d e f e n s e 
t o t h e 
a c t i o n . " 
The 
j u r y 
d i d h a v e 
e v i d e n c e 
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t a m e c h a n i c a l f a i l u r e must have b e e n t h e 
c a u s e 
o f t h e i n c i d e n t 
a t i s s u e . 
The 
i n c i d e n t c o u l d o n l y h a v e b e e n 
t h e r e s u l t o f one o f two o c c u r r e n c e s : 
a m e c h a n i c a l f a i l u r e 
o f 
t h e 
b r a k e s 
o r a 
f a i l u r e 
by H e n d e r s o n t o p r o p e r l y 
s e t 
t h o s e 
b r a k e s , 
and 
H e n d e r s o n 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t 
he 
s e t 
t h e 
b r a k e s 
p r o p e r l y .
2 
The 
c r e d i b i l i t y and w e i g h t t o be g i v e n H e n d e r s o n ' s 
t e s t i m o n y was 
a q u e s t i o n 
f o r t h e j u r y . 
The 
e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e i n c i d e n t c o u l d n o t be r e p l i c a t e d , 
t h a t W i l l i a m G e o r g e H e n d e r s o n h a d no o t h e r p r o b l e m 
w i t h 
t h e 
b r a k e s b e f o r e o r a f t e r t h e i n c i d e n t , and t h a t h i s 
s u p e r v i s o r ' s 
i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e b r a k e s y i e l d e d no e v i d e n c e o f a m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e 
i s 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
w e i g h s 
a g a i n s t 
H e n d e r s o n ' s 
c r e d i b i l i t y a n d / o r a s s i g n i n g h i s t e s t i m o n y d i s p o s i t i v e w e i g h t . 
2 H e n d e r s o n f u r t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a f t e r t h e i n c i d e n t , he 
e n t e r e d t h e cab o f h i s t r u c k , f o u n d t h a t t h e b r a k e s were 
s t i l l 
s e t , 
and r e l e a s e d 
them. 
17 
1091427 
I c a n n o t s a y t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e a l l o w s f o r o n l y one 
c o n c l u s i o n 
as 
a m a t t e r o f 
l a w , h o w e v e r . 
The 
a s s i g n m e n t o f 
c r e d i b i l i t y 
and 
w e i g h t 
t h e r e f o r e r e m a i n s 
a t a s k 
f o r t h e 
j u r y u n d e r 
t h e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
p r e s e n t e d ; 
H e n d e r s o n was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o h a v e 
a 
j u r y d e c i d e 
i f i t b e l i e v e d h i m . 
I f t h e j u r y c o u l d a c c e p t 
h i s 
t e s t i m o n y 
t h a t he p r o p e r l y s e t t h e b r a k e s b e f o r e 
e x i t i n g 
t h e 
t r u c k , t h e n i t r e a s o n a b l y 
and 
l o g i c a l l y c o u l d c o n c l u d e t h a t 
on 
t h e o c c a s i o n 
a t i s s u e t h e b r a k e s must h a v e 
f a i l e d w i t h i n 
t h e 
m e a n i n g o f t h e j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n 
g i v e n .
3 
I 
f i n d 
t h e 
c a s e s 
o f 
P h i l l i p s 
v. 
S e w a r d , 
[Ms. 
1081226, 
J u n e 
25, 
2010] 
So. 
3d 
( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) , 
F r i e d l a n d e r 
v. 
H a l l , 
514 
So. 
2d 914 
( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) , and J o n e s v. L y o n s , 540 
So. 
2d 
729 
( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) , 
r e l i e d upon by 
t h e m a i n 
o p i n i o n 
t o 
be 
i n a p p o s i t e . 
B a s e d on t h e 
f o r e g o i n g , 
I r e s p e c t f u l l y 
d i s s e n t . 
3 O b v i o u s l y , 
i t c o u l d have b e e n 
i m p o r t a n t 
f o r t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o 
i n s t r u c t 
t h e 
j u r y 
t h a t 
i t 
was 
t h e 
j u r y ' s 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
t o 
d e c i d e 
i f 
t h e r e 
had 
b e e n 
a 
m e c h a n i c a l 
f a i l u r e b e f o r e 
a p p l y i n g t h e 
p a r t i c u l a r 
i n s t r u c t i o n a t i s s u e . 
We 
a r e 
n o t 
p r e s e n t e d 
w i t h 
any 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
s u c h 
an 
i n s t r u c t i o n 
was 
m i s s i n g 
f r o m 
t h e 
c h a r g e s 
g i v e n 
t h e 
j u r y 
o r 
w h e t h e r any 
s u c h o m i s s i o n 
w o u l d make t h e 
m e c h a n i c a l - f a i l u r e 
c h a r g e g i v e n 
m i s l e a d i n g . 
18