# U n i t e d S t a t e s C o u r t o f A pp e a l s

For the Eig hth Circu it

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

No . 1 8 -3 3 57

_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Green Pl ai n s Ot t er Tai l , LLC

ll l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l Pl a in t i

f f - Ap p el l an t

v

.

Pro -En v i ro nm en tal , In c.

l l l l l l l l l ll l l l l l l l l l l Def

en da n t - Ap

p el l ee

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ap p eal fro m

Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt
fo r t h e Di s t ri ct o f M i n n es o ta

_

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Su b m i t t ed : No v em

b er 1 2 , 2 0 1 9
Fi l ed : M arch 2 0 , 2 0 2 0

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

Befo re COLLOTON, W OLLM AN, an d BENTON, Ci rcu it J u d g es

.

_ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _

BENTON, Ci rcu i t J u d g e.

Green Pl ai n s Ot t er Tai l

, L LC o wn s an d op erat es an et h an o l p ro du ct i o n faci l i t y

. In 2 0 1 4, an ex p l o s i o n an d fi r e e x t en s i v el y d am ag ed i t

. Green Pl ai n s s u ed Pro

En v iro nm en t al , In c. fo r n eg l i g en ce an d p ro d u ct s l i ab i l it y , al l eg i n g d efect i ve d es i g n

an d fai l u re t o ad eq u at el y i n s t ru ct an d warn u s ers

. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt g ran ted s u m m aryju d g m en t t o PEI. Green Pl ai ns ap p eal s

. H av i n g ju ri s di ct i o n u n d er 28 U.S.C. § 1 2 9 1,

t h i s co u rt affi rm s i n p art , rev ers es i n p art , an d rem an d s

.

I.

Green Pl ai n s p ro d u ces et h an o l i n Ferg u s Fal l s , M i n n es o t a. Pro d uci n g et h an ol

m ak es p o l l u tan t s

. T h es e p o l l ut an t s are b u rn ed off i n a reg en erat i v e t herm al o x i d i zer ( R T O )

. D a m

pers co n t ro l th e fl o w o f v ap o rs in an d o u t o f th e RTO’ s ch am b ers

. Th es e d am

p ers are po wered by a h y d rau li c p u m p u ni t (HPU). In an em erg en cy , t h e

RTO s h o u ld (1 ) cl o s e t o k eep u n p ro ces s ed v ap o rs o u t an d (2 ) rel eas e t h e v ap o rs

al read y i n s i d e in t o t h e at m o s p h ere. Bo th fu n ct i o n s req u i re h y d rau l i c pres s u re (1 ) to

cl o s e t he i n p u t d am

p er, an d (2 ) t o o p en t h e rel eas e d am p er.

Th e HPU has an accu m u l at o r t h at s u p p li es h y d rau li c fl u i d fo r t h e RTO’ s

reg u l ar cy cl es

. If a hy d rau l i c p u m p wi t h i n t h e HPU fai l s, t h e accu m u l at or s h o u ld

fo rce i t s fl u i d b ack i n t o th e s y s t em , m o v in g t he d am p ers t o s afe p o s i t io n s

. In o rd er

t o o p erat e, t h e accu m

u l at o r m u s t b e rech arg ed wi t h n it ro gen

.

Th e HPU’ s h y d rau l i c pu m p i s co n n ect ed t o th e o t h e r p art s o f t h e HPU by

co u pl i n g s. In 2 0 1 4

, a co u p l i n g fai l ed

, cau s i n g a l o s s of h y d rau li c p res s u re t o t h e

HPU. Sev eral al arm s s o u nd ed

. Green Pl ai n s ’ s s taff di s co vered t h at t h e dam p ers d id

n o t m o v e t o s a fe p o s i ti o n s

. An h o u r lat er, an ex p l os i o n d am ag ed th e RTO, o t h er

eq u ip m en t , an d b u i ld i n g s

.

Th e RTO’ s d am

p ers co u l d m ov e t o s afe p o s it i on s on l y i f t he accu m ul at o r was

s u ffi ci en t l y p rech arg ed

. Po s t -ex p l os i o n i n ves t i g at i o ns s h o wed al m o s t n o p rech arg e

o f t h e HPU’ s accu m

u l at o r. Th e HPU m an u al t hat PEI g av e Green Pl ai n s s ai d :

Th e accu m

u l at o r i s p rech arg ed at t i m e o f co m m is si o n in g t o

a p red et erm i n ed p res s u re wi t h i n ert n i t ro g en

. A ch arg i n g

-2

-an d g au g in g as s em b l y s h o ul d p eri o d i cal l y b e at tach ed t o

t h e accu m

u l at o r ch arg e p o rt t o ch eck t he accu m u l at o r

p rech arg e, an d s h o u l d b e rech arg ed as n e e d e d us i n g o n l y d ry , i n ert n it ro gen

. Th es e o perat io n s s h o u l d b e p erfo rm ed
wi t h t h e s y s t em o ff, an d al l h y d rau l i c pres s u re re l i e v ed
fro m t h e s y s tem

.

Th e m an u al ad d ed : “ It i s s u g g es t ed t h at a ch eck b e m ad e a w ee k a f t e r i n st al l at i o n,

an d t hereaft er o n ce a m o n t h .” A l ab el o n th e HPU u ni t warn ed

, i n al l cap i t al l et t ers ,
t h at fai l u re t o fo l l o w d i rect i o n s can cau s e m al fu nct i o n s l ead i n g t o d eat h

, p e r s o n al

i n ju ry , an d p ro pert y d am ag e. Th e l ab el d irect ed u s ers t o a web s i te wi t h i ns t ru ct i o n s

. Green Pl ai n s n ev er ch eck ed t h e l ev el o f p rech arg e, o r rech arg ed t h e n i t ro g en , d u ri n g

t h e s i x y ears b et ween t h e RTO’ s co m m i s si on i n g an d th e ex p l o si o n , n o r d i d Green

Pl ai n s k eep o n -s i t e t h e p art s t o ch eck t he p rech arg e.

Green Pl ai n s s ued PEI i n 2 0 1 6

, al l eg i n g n eg l ig en ce an d p ro d u ct s l i ab i l i t y fo r

d efect i ve d es i g n o f th e RTO, an d i n ad eq u at e warn i n g s of t h e i m p ort an c e o f t h e

accu m ul at o r. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t to PEI, ru l i n g th at Green

Pl ai n s ’ s l ack o f m ai nt en an ce was a su p ers ed in g cau s e n eg at i n g PEI’ s l i ab i l i t y fo r an y

d es i g n de fect

, an d t h at t h e d es i g n w as no t u n reas o n ab l y d an g ero u s. Th e co u rt al s o

g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n Green Pl ai ns ’ s fai lu re-t o -warn cl ai m , st res s i n g t h e

ab s en ce o f ev i d en ce i n t he reco rd t h at em p l o y ees read t h e w arn i n g s i n t h e m an u al s

. Gr een P l a i ns Ot t er Ta i l

, LLC v. Pr o -Envi r o nm ent al

, I nc. , 3 4 9 F. Su pp

. 3 d 7 6 8

, 7 8 0
(D. M i n n . 2 0 1 8).

M i n nes o t a law go vern s t h i s d iv ers i t y act io n

. La m o ur eux v. M PSC, I nc. , 8 4 9

F.3 d 7 3 7, 73 9 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 7 )

. T h i s c o u rt rev i ews d e n ov o t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Tho m

p so n v. Hi ra n o Tecs eed Co

., Lt d

. , 4 56 F.3 d 8 0 5

, 8 0 8 (8 t h Ci r.

2 0 0 6 ). Su m

m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er if t here are n o g en ui n e i s s u es o f m at eri a l f act

a n d t h e m o v i n g p art y i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f law. Fed. R

. Ci v

. P

. 5 6 (c)

. “ W h ere t h e reco rd t ak en as a wh o l e c o u l d n o t l e a d a rat io n al t ri er o f fact to

-3

-fi nd fo r t he n o n m o vi ng part y , t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e fo r t ri al .” T or g er s o n v. Ci t y

o f Ro ches t er , 6 4 3 F.3 d 1 0 3 1

, 1 0 4 2 (8 th Ci r. 2 01 1 ) (en b an c), ci ti ng M a t s us hi t a El ec.

I nd us . Co . v. Zeni th Ra d

i o Co r p

. , 4 7 5 U.S. 5 74 , 5 8 7 (1 9 86 ).

II.

Un d er M i n n es o t a l aw, a p ro d u ct s l i ab i l i t y cl ai m fo r d efect i v e des i g n req u i res : (1 ) t he p ro d u ct w as i n a d efect i ve co nd i ti o n u n reas o n ab l y dan g ero us fo r i t s i n t en d ed

u s e; (2 ) t h e d efect ex i s ted wh en i t l eft t h e m an u fact u rer’ s co nt ro l ; an d (3 ) t he d efect

was t h e pro x i m at e cau s e o f t h e i n ju ry s u s t ai ned

. Ad

a m s v. To yo t a M ot o r Co r p ., 8 6 7

F.3 d 9 03

, 9 1 6 -1 7 (8 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 7 ), ci t i n g Bi lo t t a v. Kel ley Co

. , 3 4 6 N.W

. 2 d 6 1 6

, 6 2 3

n

. 3 (M i n n

. 1 9 8 4 ). A m an u fact u rer h as a d ut y t o d es i g n i t s p ro d u ct t o av o i d an

u n reas o nab l e ri s k o f h arm wh en t h e p ro d uct i s u sed as i n t en d ed o r i n an u n i n t en d ed

y et reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e m an n er. I d

. at 6 2 1

. “ W h et h e r a p r o d u ct i s d efect i v e i s

g en eral l y a q u es t i o n o f fact ; o n l y w h e r e reas o n ab l e m i nd s can n ot d i ffer d o es t h e

q u es ti o n b eco m e o n e o f l aw.” Tho m p s o n , 4 56 F.3 d at 8 0 9 (ap p ly i n g M i n n es o t a l aw).

“ M i n n es o t a m erg es n eg l ig en ce an d s tri ct li ab i l i ty cl ai m s i n t o a s i n gl e p ro d u ct s

l i ab i l i t y t h eo ry , wh i ch em p l o y s a reas o n ab l e-care b al an ci n g t es t t o d et erm i n e wh et h er

a p ro d u ct i s d e fect i v e.” I d

. “ To det erm i n e wh et h er t h ere i s en o u g h ev i d en ce to

s u b m i t t h e cl ai m t o a ju ry , t he co u rt m u s t b al an ce th e ‘ t h e l i k el i h o o d o f h arm , an d t h e

g rav i t y o f h arm i f i t h ap pen s , ag ai n s t t h e b u rd en o f t h e p recau t i o n wh i ch w o u l d b e

effect i v e t o av o id th e h arm .’ ” Y o ung v. Po l

l o ck Eng ’g Gr

p ., I nc. , 42 8 F.3 d 7 8 6

, 7 8 9
(8 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 5 ), ci t i n g Bi l o t t a , 3 4 6 N.W .2 d at 6 2 1.

“ An i m p o rt an t fact or i n t h i s b al an ci n g tes t i s t h e av ai l ab i l i t y of a feas i bl e, s afer

al t ern at i v e d es i g n

. ” I

d

. To d em o n st rat e t h at t h e p ro d uct i s u n reas o nab l y d an g ero u s ,

“ t h e p l ai n t i ff o rd i n ari l y h as t h e b u rd en o f s ho wi n g t h e ex i s t en ce o f an al t ern at i v e

d es i g n t hat was s afer.” Ka l li o v. Fo r d M

o t o r Co

. , 4 0 7 N.W .2 d 9 2, 96 (M in n

. 1 9 8 7 ).

-4

-If t h e m an u fact u re r p r e s e n t s ev i d en ce t o d i s p u t e t h e p ro d uct i s u n reas o n ab l y

d an gero us “ t h e t ri er o f fact wi l l res o l v e t h e ‘ u n reas on ab l y d an g ero u s ’ i s s u e.” I

d

.

G r e e n Pl ai n s in si s t s t h at t h e RTO’ s d es ig n was d efect i v e an d u n reas o n ab l y

d an gero us , em

ph as i zi n g th at the d am

p ers us e hy d rau l i c pres s ure fo r m o v em en t

, wh i l e

o t h er p o t en t i al d es i g ns , l i k e co m p res s ed ai r or wei g ht ed dam p ers , co u l d m o v e t h e

d am p ers wi t h o u t a p rech arg ed accu m ul at o r. Green Pl ai n s i n t ro d u ced ev i d en ce o f t h e

ex i s t en ce o f al t ern at i v e d es i g n s t h at are s afer.

Green Pl ai ns po in t s t o d ep o s i t i o n t es t i m o n y o f t h e o w n er o f a co m p an y t h at

d es i g n s et h an o l p ro d u ct i o n p lan t s , wh ere d am p ers m o v e b y c o m

p res s ed ai r, n ot

h y d rau l i cs

. A cco rd i n g t o h im

, i n a co m p res s ed -ai r s y s t em , d am pers h av e an

au t o m at i c fai l p o s i t i o n an d can fai l “ o p en ” wi t h a l o s s o f p res s u re. Green Pl ai n s al s o

p o i n t s t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f i t s ch i ef b o i l er en gi n eer t h at aft er t h e ex p l o s i o n , Green

Pl ai n s ad d ed wei g h t s t o t h e d am p ers s o t h at i f t h e h y d rau l i cs fai l ed

, em p l o y ees co u ld

m an u al l y o p en t h e d am

p ers

.

PEI co u n t ers t hat th e RTO d es i gn was co n s i s t en t wi t h i n du s try st an d ard s , an d

t h at Green Pl ai n s ’ s e x p ert n ev er t es t ed t h e al tern at i v e des i g n s

. Th e di s t ri ct co u rt

ru l ed

, “ PEI’ s d es i g n s t ru ck an accep tab l e b al an ce am o n g co m p et in g fact o rs an d was

n o t u n reas o n ab l y

d an g ero u s .” Gr een Pl

a i ns , 3 4 9 F. Su p p . 3 d at 7 7 5 -7 6.

W h i l e a m an u fact u rer’ s co m p l i an ce wi t h i n d us t ry s tan d ard s can b e ev i d en ce

o f a reas o nab l e d es i g n , i t “ i s n o t co n cl u s i ve p r o o f o n t h e q u es t i o n o f wh et h er a

m an u fact u rer ex erci s ed reas o n ab l e care.” Zi m p r i ch v. St

r a t fo r d Ho m es

, I nc. , 4 5 3

N.W

. 2d 5 5 7 , 5 6 0 (M i nn

. Ap p. 1 9 9 0 ), ci t i n g Schm i d t v. Beni ng a , 1 7 3 N.W .2 d 4 0 1,

4 0 8 (M i n n

. 1 9 7 0 ). Here, Green Pl ai n s ’ s ex p ert s d i d n o t need t o t es t t h e al tern at i v es

t o p ro v e t h ei r feas i b i l i t y , b ecau s e t h ey were s ucces s fu l l y in u s e. See Y o ung , 4 2 8 F.3 d

at 7 9 0

. “ Cred ib i l i t y

d et erm i n at i o n s , t he wei g h i n g o f t h e ev i d en ce, an d t h e d rawi n g

o f leg i t i m at e i n feren ces fro m t h e fact s are j u r y f u n ct i o n s , n o t th o s e o f a ju d g e.”

-5

-To r

ger s on , 6 4 3 F.3 d at 1 0 4 2

, ci t i n g Reeves v. Sa nd er s o n P l um bi ng Pr o d

s ., I nc. , 5 3 0

U.S. 1 3 3

, 1 5 0 (2 0 0 0 ). In M i n n es o t a, “ t h e ju ry u l t i m at el y d eci d es wh et h er t h e [p ro d u ct i s ] u n reas o nab l y d an g ero u s.” Y

o ung , 4 2 8 F.3 d at 7 9 1

.

Becau s e reas o n ab le m i n d s co u l d d i ffer ab o ut wh et h er t h e RTO was d efect i ve,

Green Pl ai ns s u b m i tt ed su ffi ci en t ev i d en ce o f a d efect i v e d es i g n t o s u rv i v e s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

III.

It is u n d i s p u t ed t hat i f th e accu m u l a t o r h a d b een rech arg ed

, th e ex p l o s i o n

wo u l d no t hav e h a p p e n e d

. PEI arg u es t h at t he l ack of rech arg i ng is a s u pers ed i n g

cau s e t h at cu ts o ff l i ab i l it y f o r an y al leg ed d efect

. Th e d i s tri ct co u rt was

“ u n co n vi n ced t h a t an y al l eg ed d efect was t h e p ro xi m at e cau s e of t h e fi re an d

ex p lo s i o n .” Gr een Pl

a i ns , 3 4 9 F. Su p p

. 3 d at 7 7 6

. It ru l ed th at “ Green Pl ai n s ’ o wn

l ack o f m ai n t en an ce was a s u p ers ed i ng cau s e th at bro k e a n y cau s al co n n ect i o n

b et ween an al l eg ed d es i gn d efect an d t h e fi re an d ex p l o s i o n

. ” I d

.

Pro x i m at e cau s e is g en eral l y a q u es t i o n of fact fo r t h e ju r y. Lub b er s v.

And er s o n , 5 3 9 N.W .2 d 3 9 8

, 4 0 2 (M i n n

. 1 9 95 ). Ho wev er, “ wh ere reas o n ab l e m i nd s

can arri v e at o n ly o n e co n cl u s i o n , p ro x i m at e cau s e i s a q u es t i o n o f l aw.” I d

. In a

p ro x im at e-cau s e an al y s i s , M i n n es o t a co u rt s l o o k to wh et h er an i n ju ry “ fo l l o ws i n an

u n b ro k en s eq u en ce, wi t h ou t an i n t erv en i n g effi ci en t cau s e, fro m t h e o ri g i n al

n eg li g en t act .” DeLuna v. M o wer Ct y. , 9 3 6 F.3 d 7 1 1, 71 7 (8 t h Ci r. 20 1 9 ), ci t i n g

Del l wo v. Pea r

s o n , 1 0 7 N.W

. 2 d 8 5 9

, 8 6 1 (M i n n. 1 9 6 1 ). A s up ers ed i n g ev en t b reak s

t h e ch ai n o f cau s at i o n an d “ p rev en t s t he o ri g i n al neg l i g en t act o r fro m b ei ng l i ab l e fo r

t h e fi n al i n

j u ry .” W a rt ni ck v. Mo s s & Ba r net

t

, 49 0 N.W .2 d 1 0 8

, 1 13 (M in n

. 1 9 9 2 ).

-6

-An i n t erv en i n g act i s a s u p ers ed in g cau s e i f fo u r el em en t s are m et :

(1 ) i ts harm fu l effect s m

u s t h av e o ccu rred aft er t h e o ri g i nal

n eg l i g en ce; (2 ) it m

u s t n ot h av e b een b ro u g h t ab o ut b y th e

o ri g in al n eg l i g en ce; (3 ) i t m u s t h av e ac t i v e l y wo rk ed t o b ri n g ab o u t a res u l t wh i ch wo u ld no t o t herwi s e h av e fo l l o wed fro m t he o ri g i n al n eg l i g en ce; an d (4 ) i t m u s t n o t
h av e b een reas o n ab l y fo r e s eeab l e b y th e o ri g i nal

wro n g d oer.

Ca na d a ex r el

. La n d y v. M cCa r t hy

, 5 6 7 N.W .2 d 4 9 6

, 5 0 7 (M i n n

. 1 9 97 ). “ A

d efen d an t is l i ab l e, des pi t e an i n t erv en i n g cau s e, i f t h e cau s e i s fo res eeab l e.” Bi l o t t a , 3 4 6 N.W .2 d at 6 2 5

. An i n ju ry is n o t reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e as a m at ter of law wh en

t h e u n d is p u t ed fact s , co n s i d er e d t o g et h er, es t ab l i s h t hat t h e co n n ect i o n b et ween

d e f e n d a n t ’ s co n d u ct an d t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s i nju ry was t o o at ten u at ed

. M o nt em a yo r v.

Seb ri g ht Pr o ds

., I

nc. , 8 9 8 N.W .2 d 6 2 3, 6 29 (M i n n

. 2 0 1 7). “ [C] o m p arat i v e

n eg li g en ce d o es n o t au t o m at ical l y fo recl o s e [t he m a n u f

a c t u rer’ s ] po t en ti al l i ab i l i t y

fo r d efect i ve d es i g n an d warn i n g s

. Rat h er, i f reas o n ab l e m i n d s co u l d di s ag ree as to

wh et h er [t h e p u rch as er’ s ] neg l i gen ce was r e a s o n ab l y fo res eeab l e t o [t h e

m an u fact u rer] , s u m

m ary ju dg m en t m

u s t b e d en i ed .” I

d

. at 6 3 2

.

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f M i n nes o t a ap p ro v es s u b m i t t i n g t o t he ju ry a wi d e ran g e

o f s u p ers ed i n g cau s es , in cl u d i n g rem o vi n g a det ach ab l e safet y d ev i ce, n o t h e e d i n g

t h e m an u fact u rer’ s warn ings a ga inst unc loggi n g a m ach i n e wi th t h e p o wer co n n ect ed

,

an d v i o l at i n g o ccu p at i o n al s afet y reg u l at i o n s

. I d. at 6 3 0 -3 1

, ci t in g Ger m ann v. F.L.

Sm i t he M a ch. Co

. , 3 9 5 N .W .2 d 9 2 2

, 9 2 5 (M i n n

. 19 8 6); Bi lo t t a , 3 4 6 N.W .2 d at 6 2 5;

Pa r ks v. Al l i s -Cha l m er s Co r p

. , 2 8 9 N.W .2 d 4 5 6

, 4 58 -5 9 (M i n n

. 1 9 79 ). Th i s co u rt

,
ap p ly i n g M i n n es ot a l aw, u p h el d a ju ry v erd ict b ecau s e t h e m an u fact u rer co u ld

reas on ab l y fo res ee t h e fai lu re t o p as s al o n g a m ach i n e’ s o p erat i n g m a n u a l

, an d t h e

u n fam il i ari t y of a t rai n er wi t h t h e m ach i n e’ s o p er a t i n g m a nu al

. S ee Bur s ch v.

Bea rd s l ey & P i p er , 9 7 1 F.2 d 1 0 8

, 1 1 2 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 2 ). Th i s co u rt h e l d : “ A s to

m ach i n e m ai n t e n an ce, [t h e m an u fact u rer] reas o nab l y co u l d h av e fo res een t h at [u s ers ]

-7

-wo u l d n o t m ai nt ai n th e m ach i n e i n t h e s t ri ct m an n er reco m m en d ed i n t h e o p erat i n g

m an u al .” I

d

.

PEI arg u es , as t h e di st ri ct co u rt ru l ed

, t h at n ev er rech arg in g t he accu m u l at o r

was a s up ers ed i n g cau s e b ecau s e “ i t i s u n fo res eeab l e th at Green Pl ai n s wo u l d fai l to

m ai n t ai n i t s eq u ip m en t .” Gr een Pl a i ns , 34 9 F. Su p p

. 3 d at 7 7 6

. Tru e, Green Pl ai n s

d i d n o m ai n t en an ce o n t h e accu m u l at o r d es p i t e t h e m an u al ’ s s u g g es t i on t o ch eck t h e

accu m ul at o r a week aft er i n s tal l at i o n an d t h ereaft er o n ce a m o nt h

. Bu t

, i n o r d er to

ch eck t h e l ev el o f p rech arg e in t h e accu m u l at o r, t h e m ach i ne h ad t o b e p owered o ff,

fl ui d d rai n ed

, an d a ch arg in g an d g au g i n g a s s e m b l y at t ach ed

. Reas o n ab l e m i nd s

co u ld d is ag ree wh et h er PEI co u l d fo res ee t h at a co m p an y w o u l d v i ew th e “ s u g g es t ed ”

m ai n t en an ce as m an d at o ry , o r w o u l d i g n o re i t d u e to t he effo rt req u ired

. S ee Pa r k s , 2 8 9 N.W .2 d at 4 5 9 (“ Th e ju ry co u l d fi n d th at d efen d an t k n ew, o r i n t h e ex erci s e o f

reas on a b l e care sh o u ld h av e k n o wn , t h at s o m e u s ers wo u l d l eav e t h e p o wer

c onne c te d w hile un cl o g g i n g b ecau se t h at wo u l d fu rn i sh m e c ha nic a l a s sista

nc e , sa ving

t i m e an d effo rt .”), a

p p ro ved i n M o nt em a yo r , 8 9 8 N.W .2 d at 6 30

.

Un d er M i n n es o t a l aw, PEI was n ot en t i t l ed t o s um m ary ju d g m en t o n p ro x i m at e

cau s at i o n

.

IV.

Green Pl ai n s arg u es t h at PEI d i d n o t ad eq u at el y warn t h at a fai l u re to rech arg e

co u ld cau s e an ex p l o s i o n

. A fai l u re-t o -warn cl ai m req u i res t h at : (1 ) PEI had a d u t y

t o w a r n; (2 ) PEI breach ed t h at d u t y b y p ro vi d in g an i nad eq u at e warn i ng ; an d (3 )

PEI’ s in ad eq u at e w arn i n g cau s ed Green Pl ai n s ’ s d am ag es

. S ee K a p p s v. Bi o s ens e

W eb s t er , I nc. , 8 13 F. Su p p

. 2 d 1 1 2 8

, 1 1 55 (D. M in n

. 2 0 11 ), ci t i n g Ba l d er v. Ha l ey , 3 9 9 N.W .2 d 7 7, 8 1 (M i nn

. 1 9 8 7 ). “ [A] su p p l i er has a d u t y t o warn en d us ers o f a

d an gero us pro d u ct i f it i s reas o nab l y fo res eeab l e t h at an i n ju ry co u ld o ccu r i n i t s u s e.”

Gr a y v. Ba d g er M i ni ng Co r p

. , 6 7 6 N .W

. 2 d 2 6 8

, 2 7 4 (M i n n

. 2 0 04 ). T h i s d u t y

-8

-ex t en d s t o “ al l reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e u s ers .” Ha uens t ei n v. L oct

i te Co r p

. , 3 4 7

N.W

. 2d 2 7 2

, 2 7 5 (M i nn

. 1 9 8 4 ). W h et h er a d u t y e x i s t s “ i s a l eg al i s s u e fo r co u rt

res o l ut i o n.” Ger m a nn , 3 9 5 N.W .2 d at 9 2 4

.

Here, PEI h ad a du t y t o w arn Green Pl ai ns , a fo res eeab l e u s er, o f t h e d an g ers

o f t h e RTO fai li n g an d ex p l o d i n g. T he i s s ues are wh et her t h e warn i n g s w e r e

ad eq uat e, an d i f i nad eq uat e, wh et h er t h ey cau s ed t h e ex p l os i o n.

“ To be l eg al l y ad eq u at e, a warn i n g s h ou l d (1 ) at t ract t h e at t en t i o n o f th o s e t h at

t h e p ro d u ct co u l d h arm ; (2 ) ex p l ai n t he m ech an is m an d m od e o f i nju ry ; an d (3 )

p ro v id e i n s t ru ct i o n s o n way s t o s afel y u s e th e p ro d u ct to av o i d i n ju ry .” Gl o r vi g en

v. C i r r u s D e s i

g n Co r p

. , 8 1 6 N.W .2 d 5 7 2

, 5 8 2 (M i n n

. 2 0 12 ). “ In an y t h eo ry o f

p ro d uct s l i ab il i t y , t h e p lai n t i ff m u s t s h o w a cau s al l i n k b et ween t h e al l eg ed d efect an d

t h e i n ju ry .” Ri ent

s v. I nt ’l Ha rves t

er Co

. , 3 46 N.W .2 d 35 9

, 3 62 (M i n n. Ap p

. 1 9 8 4 ).

Here, PEI g av e G reen Pl ai n s an RTO m an u al

. It s p eci fi cal l y warn s , “ Peri o d i c

cl ean i n g an d m ai n t en an ce o f eq u i p m en t i s req u i red

. Fai lu re to d o s o m ay cau s e t h e

eq u ip m en t t o m a l f

u n c t i o n wi t h t h e p o t en t i al fo r fi re an d ex p l os i o n h azard s .” Th e

“ M ai n ten an ce” s ect i o n o f t h e m an u al al s o warn s , wi t h a cart o o n “ b o m b ” i co n :

PERIODIC CLEANING AND M AINTENANCE OF

E Q U I P M E N T I S R E Q U I R E D

. F A I L U R E T O

U N D E R T A K E S U C H A C T I O N M A Y C A U S E EQUIPM ENT DAM AGE, IM P R OPER FUNCTION, O R
THE CREATION OF AN EXPLOSIVE HAZARD.

PEI a l s o g av e Green Pl ai ns an HPU m an u al

. It h as i ns t ru ct i o n s o n t h e

m ai n t en an ce o f th e accu m ul at o r, i n cl u d i n g h o w to ch eck th e p rech arg e. Th is m an u al

warn s :

It i s i m

p erat i v e t h at p ers o n n el i n v o lv ed i n t h e i n st al lat i o n ,

s erv i ce, an d o p e r a t i o n o f t h e p o wer u n i t be fam i l i ar w i t h

-9

-h ow t h e eq u ip m en t i s t o b e u s ed

. Th ey s h o u l d be aware o f

t h e l i m i t at i o n s o f t h e s y s t em an d i t s co m po n en t p art s ; an d

h av e k n o wl ed g e o f g o o d h yd r a u l i c p ract i ces i n t erm s o f

s afet y , i n s t al l at i on , an d m ai n ten an ce.

Green Pl ai n s arg u es th at t h es e warn i n g s are i n ad eq u at e b ecau se t h ey d o n ot

g i v e ad eq u at e in s tru ct i o n fo r s afe u s e, e x p l ai n th e i n ju ry fro m a fai l u re to m ai n t ai n

eq u ip m en t

, o r p ro v i d e i n s t ru ct io n s h o w t o s afel y u s e t he accu m u l at o r. Green Pl ai n s

as s ert s i t d i d n o t kn o w t h e i m p o rt an ce o f rech arg i n g t h e accu m u l at o r an d t h at t h e

co n seq u en ces were n o t s u ffi ci en t l y ap p aren t

.

To t he co nt rary , a warn i n g l ab el o n t h e accu m u l at o r, u nd er an al l cap i t al l et t ers

“ W ARNING!”, s ay s : “ Fai l ure t o read an d fo l l o w t h es e d i rect io n s can cau s e rap i d l y

d i s ch arg i n g g as an d / o r h y d rau l i c fl u i d wh i ch can res u l t in d eat h

, p ers o n al i n ju ry an d

p ro p ert y d am ag e.” T h e lab el d irect s t h e read er t o in st ru ct i o n s in th e p ro d uct cat al o g

o r o n a web s it e. Th e web s i t e, wi t h d et ai l ed i n st ru ct io n s, i n s t ru ct s read ers t o ch eck t h e

accu m ul at o r o n ce p er m on t h

. A l s o o n t h e l ab el i s an in s t ru ct i o n t o “ fo l l o w th e ab o v e

m en t i o n ed b u l l et i n fo r al l s erv i ci n g , i n cl u d i n g p rech arg in g an d m ai nt en an ce.”

Th ere m u s t b e a cau s al rel at i o n sh i p b et ween th e fai lu re t o warn an d t h e i n ju ry

. Ba l der

, 39 9 N.W .2 d at 8 1 -8 2 (fi n d in g n o cau s at i o n as a m at t er o f l aw w h en a m o t h er

an d s o n d i s reg ard ed v erb al warn i n g s a n d “ [ t ]h e re i s no reas on to bel i ev e t h at a

warn i n g l ab el wo u l d h av e d o n e an y t h i n g m o re t o i m p res s [h i m ] o r h is m ot h er”). See

a l s o Ha uens t

ei n , 3 47 N.W

. 2d at 2 7 6 (i f t h e i nju red p l ai n t i ff w o u l d n ot h av e act ed an y

d i fferen tl y h ad t h ere b een warn i n g, m an u fact u re r ’ s fai l u re to warn is n ot cau s e o f

i n ju ry ).

“ Ab s en t a read in g o f t h e warn i n g , t h ere i s n o cau sal l i n k b et ween t h e al l eg ed

d efect an d t h e i n

j ury .” J &W Ent er s ., Inc. v. Eco n. Sa l

es , I nc. , 4 8 6 N.W .2 d 1 7 9

, 1 8 1
(M i nn

. Ap p

. 1 9 9 2 ). “ [A] n i s s u e as t o t h e ad eq uacy o f a warn i n g neces s ari l y

-1 0

-p res u p p os es t h at t h e o perat or h as read th e warn i n g.” J ohns on v. Ni ag a ra M

a ch. &

To o l W o rk s , 6 6 6 F.2 d 1 2 2 3 , 1 2 2 5 (8 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 1 ) (ap p l y i ng M i n n es o t a l aw).

Th e Ch i ef Bo i l er En gi n eer at Green Pl ai n s t es t i fi e d h e g l an ced t h ro u g h t h e

m an u al s , b u t d i d no t read th em co v er to co v er. He t es t i fi ed h e u nd ers t o od t h e ro l e o f

t h e accu m

u l at or an d k n ew t h at t h e a c c u m u lat o r’ s p rech arg e n eed ed t o be ch eck ed

. He al s o ack n o wl ed g ed he w as n o t aware t h at th e HPU m an u al di s cu s s es ch eck i n g t h e

a c c u m u l at o r p rech arg e. Th e warn i n g l ab el on th e accu m u lat o r s p eci fi cal ly s ay s t o

fo l l o w i n s t ru ct io n s fo r prech arg i n g an d m ai n t en an ce. A d d i ti o n al w arn i ng s wo u l d n ot

h av e ch an g ed t h e b eh av io r o f Green Pl ai n s

.

Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt p ro p erl y g ran t ed su m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e fai l u re-t o -warn

cl ai m

.

* * * * * * *

Th e ju d g m en t as t o fai l u re-t o -warn i s affi rm ed

. Th e ju d g m en t as t o d efect i v ed es i g n i s rev ers ed

, an d t h e cas e rem an d ed fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s

o p i n i o n

.

__ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _

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