### FI LED U.S. COURT O F APP EALS ELEVENTH CIRCUIT J une 4, 20 04 THO MAS K. KAH N CL ERK [PUBLIS H] IN THE UN ITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FO R T HE EL EV EN TH CIRC UI T

____ ____ ____ N o. 02- 1594 3

____ ____ ____ _ D. C. Docket N o. 01-07360 CV -W PD WAYNE CHARLES OKEN, Pl ai nt iff -Ap pe ll an t,
ve rs us THE MONSANTO COMPANY, TH E SOLARIS GROUP, SC O T T S CO MP A

N Y , suc ce sso r in i nte re st t o M onsanto Co m pany and the Solaris Gr oup, DO W AG ROS CIENCE S, LL C, D O W A G RO SC IEN CE S, a s su cc es sor in int er es t t o D ow E lanc o, DOW ELANCO, as s uc ces so r in in te res t t o Do w Che m ic al Co m pa ny, et al ., D ef en dants -Appe lle es .

____ ____ ____ __ Appeal f rom the United State s District Court fo r the S outhe rnD istri ct

of F lor ida

____ ____ ____ _ (J un e 4, 200 4)Honora ble Anne C. Conway , United States District J udg e for the Middle District of * Florida , sitti ngby

desig nation. 2 Before TJO FL AT and CAR NE S, Circuit Judges, and CO NWAY , D istrict Judg e. * PE R CU RIA M: I. T he F ed er al I nse ct ic ide , F ungi ci de , and R ode nti ci de A ct , 7 U
. S. C. §§ 1 36- 13 6y (“ FIFRA”) es tabl is he s a c om pr eh en si ve reg ul at ory

sch em e fo r pe st ic id es . Manufacturer s of pesticides m ust ob tain Environm ental Protection Agency ( “E P A ” ) ap p r o v a l o f

th e i r p r o du c t s an dth e w arn i n g l ab e l s a c c o mp an yi n g th e m, which instruct consum ers on how to use the product safely
. 7 U. S. C. §§ 13 6a(a), 136a (c )( 1) (C ). F IF RAc ont ai ns an e xpr es s pr ee m pti on p ro vis ion : S tate s “ sha ll not im pose or c ont inu e in e ff

ec t any r equir em en ts f

or la be lin g or pa ck ag ing in ad di ti on to or d iff

eren t fr om

th os e req ui red ” b y

FIFRA. 7 U.S.C. § 1 36 v( b)
. In Papas v. Upj ohn Co., 985 F. 2d 51 6, 517, 520 (11th Cir. 1993) (Papas I I), a dam ages action for personal injur ies sustained “ due to expo sure to pesticides
m anufactured by

[codefe ndant] Z oecon,” w e held that “ FIF RA expresslypreem pts state comm on law ac tions against m anufacturer s of EP A- registered pe sti ci de s to the e xte nt tha t su cha ct ion s are pr ed ic at ed on c la im s of

ina de quate la be lin g or pa ck ag ing
. ” S uc h pr ee m pti on e xte nde d to pla int if f’ s c la im s ba se d onT h e c o mp la int a ll e g e s th at O k e n“ u s in gana p p r o p r iate s p r e a d e r , a

p p li e d th e [D ur s b an ] 1 . . . to his lawn and g arde n for its intended use, a nd was e x posed to the Dursba n product.” Complaint, ¶ 23 (emphasis adde d). Para g raph 23 is the only para g raph of

the complaint that descr ibes Oken’ s contac t with Dursban. Ok e n a sse rt e d th is i n h is St ate me nt o f F a c ts f ile d in re sp on se to t

he de fe nd ants ’ 2 mot ion s f or summa ry jud g me nt. 3 “ ne gli ge nc e, str ic t l ia

bil ity , and b re ac h of

im pli ed w ar ranty , ” be ca

use “ [e ] ac h of these claim s was, in whole or in part, a claim of inadequate labeling for alleged dangers arising from

exposure to the pesti cides.” Id. at 517. W e theref ore affi rm edth e d is tri ctco ur t’s s umm ary jud gm en t d is m is si ng th e p la in ti ff’s cl ai m s. II. The cas e b efo re u s m irr or s Papa s II . W ayne Ch arl es Oken pu rch as edtwo b a g s o f O rth o D u r s b anL aw n& G ar d e nI n s e c tC o n tr o l ( “D u r s b an ” ) f r o m H o me De pot U.S .A ., Inc. (“ Hom e D epot”). The Monsanto Com pany (“ Monsanto ”)
m anufactured the D ursban, and DowChem ical Com pany (“ Dow ”) m anufactured the product’s a ctive ingredient. Awarning label approvedby EP A, and annexed to this opi nio n a s an Appe ndi x, w as a tta ch ed to the ba gs O ke n purc ha se d. O ke n r ea d th e w ar

nin g la be l and, usi ng a

tw o- w he el ed

spr ea de r, spr ea d bo th bags, one at a tim e, on his lawn to control ants
. As he sprea d the Dursban, he wa s exposed to a “ m ist of powder [that] arose. ” H e soon su ffer ed a re action, which

1 2 req ui redex te ns iv e h os pi ta li zat io n a ndtre at m en t.Ok e n a lso name d nume ro us pa rt ie s r e late d to Do w a

nd Mo ns anto , a

nd “ A. B .C. 3 Company ,” a f

ictitious entit y

that was ne ver se rved a

nd never appea red in this case
. The a pplicable statute of

limit ations is provided by Fla. Stat. § 95.11, which states that 4
“ [a]n a c tio n f ound e d o n n e g lig e nc e ,” and “ [a]ny a c tio n n ot s pe c if

ic a lly pr ov ide d f

or in t he se statutes” shall be c ommenced w ithin four y ear s of the time the ac tion accr ues. The c ourt g rante d the def endants summary

judgme nt on Oken’s manuf actur ing de fec t 5 claim for la ck of e vidence . Oken doe s not challeng e the r uling in this appea l. 4 T he day be fo re the statut e of

li m itatio ns w oul d have barr ed thi s a ct ion , O k e nb r o u g h tth i s a c t i o nf o r mo n e y d a ma g e s a g a i n s tD o w , M o n s an t o an dH o me De pot in a Florida cir cuit court. H is com plaint so unded in negligence and strict 3 4 lia bil ity
. I t a lle ge d th at

D owand M onsanto w er e ne gli ge nt i n de sig nin g and
m anuf ac tur ing the D ur sban and i n c om posi ng the w ar

nin g la be l atta ch ed

to the ba gs, H om e D ep ot w as ne gli ge nt i n se lli ng an un re as ona bly dange ro us p ro duc t,
an d a ll thr ee de fe ndants w er e str ic tly li ab le f or dis pe nsi ng an un re as ona bly da ng ero us pro du ct
. T he de fe ndants r em ove d th e ca se to fe de ra l di str ic t c ourt, and i n th ei r
an swe rs to th e co m

pl ai nt , all eg edth atFIFRA p reem pt edeach of Ok en ’s cla im s. Fo ll owi ng so m e d is co ve ry , th ey m ov edth e d is tri ctco ur t fo r su m m ary jud gm en t. T he c ourt gr an te d th ei r m oti on, c onc lud ing that the c as e w as ind ist ing uis hable fr om , and c ontro lle d by , P ap as I I. O ke n no wappe al s. 5 III
.5

The ad equa cy

of t he Durs ba n warni ng lab el is at t he he artof t hi s ca se . A lth oughO ke n’ s c om

pla int sounds in n eg lig en ce and s tr ic t l ia bil ity , w e cannot igno re the c ritical ca

usation elem ent of eac h of these torts. F or his neglig ence cl ai m s, O ke n m

ust sho wthat the de fe ndants ’ a lle ge d ne gli ge nc e ca use d hi s inj ur ie s. F or

his str ic t l ia

bil ity c la im s, he m

ust sho wthat the a lle ge d de fe ct s in Dursban caused his injuries. O ken cannot escape, how ever, that his injuries we re caused, at least in part, by the alleged inadequacy

of the label. If

the label had ad equa te ly

w ar ne d hi m of the dange rs of

D ur sban, he c ont en ds, he w oul d no t have
use d th e pr oduc t and w oul d no t have be eninj ur ed
. A s P ap as I I ins tr uc ts, be ca use al l of O ke n’ s c la im s are ba se d a t l ea st i n part on i na de quate la

be lin g, the y

are a ll pr ee m pte d by F IF RA
. 985 F
. 2d at 51 7. Ok en as k s th atwe o v erru l e P ap as II . He ar g u es th atth e S up re m e C o u rt ’s de ci sio n inMe dtr oni c, I nc . v. L ohr , 518 U
. S. 470 , 116 S
. Ct
. 224 0, 135 L
. E d. 2d 700 (1 996) , r equir es that w e re ev al ua te P ap as I I an d f ind that st at e- lawc au se s of action based on in adequate warnings are not preem pted by FIF RA. H owever , subs equent to th e Suprem e Court’ s decision in Medtronic, w e re affir m ed Papas II in Lowe ’ s Hom e Center s, I nc. v. Olin Corp. , 313 F. 3d 13 07, 1308 (11t h Cir. 2 0 0 2 )
. B e c au s e ap an e l o f th i s c o u rti s n o tf

r e e t o r e c o n s i d e r

ani s s u e d e c i d e db y a prior panel, United States v. S teele, 147 F.3d 1316 , 1317-18 (11th Cir. 1998 ) (e n6

ba nc ), we are b ou ndby ourde ci si on in Lowe’s, an d m us t ad he re t o P ap as II. AFFIR MED.7 AP PEND IX ORTH O(R) D ur sb an (R

) La w n & Ga rd en In se ctC on tr ol FL E AA N D T IC K

CO N T RO L ( O utd oor s) S O IL I N SE CT S - E ur ope anCr an e Fl y /L eathe r Ja ck et

( larv ae ) an d Whit e G ru

bs. H O ME I N V A D IN G P E ST S (O uts ide ) - A nts , Br ow n D og T ic ks, Co ckro ac he s, Clover Mites, Crickets, Earw igs, Fleas, Millipedes, Sowbugs (Pillbugs), Si lv erfi sh , Spi de rs (in cl ud in g B la ckW id ow Sp id ers ). HO M E L A WN S - A nt s, C hi nc h Bu gs, C ut w or m s, F allA rm yworm s, Ea rwigs, C ri cket s, Br own D og T ic k s, F le as, Le af ho pp er s, La w n M ot hs ( So d We bwor m s) , C hi gge rs , C lov er M it es , Gr ass ho pp er s, S pi tt le bu gs, S owbu gs (P illbugs). DIRECT IONS FO R U SE It is a viola tion of F eder al law to use t his produ ct in a m anner inconsistent w it h it s la be lin g. REA D E NTIRE LA BEL. U SE S TRIC TLYIN A CC ORD AN CE WITH LAB EL P REC AU TIONA RYSTA TEM ENT S A ND DIRECT IONS . FL EAAN D T ICK

CO NT ROL (O UT DO ORS ) Tr eat once a m onth beginni ng when pests first appear in late spring (May - June) an d c ont inu e unt il late sum m er ( Se pte m be r - O ct obe r)
. E lim inatin g w ee ds aro und the hom e an d m ow ing law ns f re que ntl y r ed uc es hid ing pla ce s. D ogs, c at s, the ir kennel or beddin g area

shoul d also be treated w ith a registered product such as O RT H O P et

F le a & T ic k S pr ay . I n a ddi tio n, if f le as or ti ck s are ind oor s on carpets or pet r esting areas, use a product such as FLE A- B-G ON (R) Flea & Tic k K ill er or O RT H O H om e Pe st I nse ct Co ntr ol. T re at

a ll thr ee sit es - out door s, ind oor s, and the pe t w ithappr opr iate la be le d pr oduc ts t o a ch ie ve c ontro l. I f any one of the se are as is m iss ed , it

c anse rv e as asourc e of

r ei nf es tatio n. H O W T O U SE : Appl y

uni fo rm ly

to hom e law s us ing aD ro p, Br oa dc as t, or O RT H O W H IRL Y BI RD (R) Sp re ad er . T re at w he n in se ct s or

sig ns o f dam ag e fi rs t ap pe ar . Re tr eat a s ne ce ssary if r ei nf es tatio n oc curs . K ee p c hil dr enand p et s of f tr eate d are as unt il thi s m at er ia l i s w as he d in to t ur f an d8

g r a s s i s dry. T O CO N T RO L : A nts , Ch inc h B ugs, Cutw orm s, F al l A rm yw or m s, E ar w igs , Crickets, Brown Dog Tic ks, Flea s, L eafhoppers, Lawn Moths (Sod W ebworm s), Ch igg er s, Cl ove r Mi te s, G ra ssh oppe rs , S pittle bugs , S owbugs ( Pi llb ugs) : Appl y 21⁄2 lbs pe r 1, 000 sq f

t ( 40' x 25 ' ). I m

m ed iate ly a ft er appl ic at ion , giv e the law n ali ght w at er ing
. S ee ta

ble be lowf

or sug ge ste d sp re ad er

se tti ngs. Sod W ebworm s (L aw n Moths ): Sod W ebworm cater pillars feed on grass blades at ni gh t. Adul t Webwo rm s (La wn M ot hs ) em erg e atdu sk . They fly ov er t he lawn lay ing eggs that later hatch into destructive caterpillars. D am age appears f irst as sm al l br ow n sp ots w hic h r ap idl y de ve lop int o larg e br ow n are as . I f L awn M oth s ar e not ic ed

in larg e num

be rs , or a t f ir st s ignof

dam ag e, tr eat e nti re law n. T O CO N T RO L : M ole Cr ic ke ts, H y pe ro de s ( T ur fg ra ss W ee vil s) E ur ope anCr an e Fly /Leather Jacket ( larvae) and White Grubs (lar vae of E uropean Chafer , S outh ern Ch af er and J ap an es e Be et le ): U se 5 l bs/ 1, 000 sq f t ( se e ta ble be low ). T hor ough ly w at er im m ed iate ly a ft er appl ic at ionto w as h th e ins ec tic ide int o th e soi l. For Mole Cr ickets apply

in May or June when pests are sm all. Hy perodes (T ur fg ra ss) W ee vil s: T re at sus pe ct ed

pr obl em are as in m id- Apr il an d a ga in i n m idMay . Whit e G ru

bs: T re at w he n gr ubs ar e y oung and a ct ive ly f ee din g ne ar

the soi l sur fa ce , usu al ly

dur ing late Jul y

and Augus t. C onsu lt y our A gr ic ult ur al E xte nsi on Se rv ic e Sp ec ia lis t f

or ti m ing of appl ic at ion
. HOME INVADING PESTS: PERI METER TREATMENT AROUND FO UN DA TI ON(O UT SID E) Ants, Crickets, Fleas, Sowbugs (Pillbugs), Mi lli pe de s, E ar

w igs , Cl ove r Mi te s, S ilv er fi sh, S pid er s ( In cl
. Bl ac k W ido w Sp ide rs ), Co ckro ac he s, Br ow n D og T ic ks: Appl y in a band 2 to 6 f

t w ide aro und the build ing us ing an ORT HO W HI RL YBI RD( R) S preader. T reat gar bage can sto ra ge are as and o utd oor pe t r es tin g are as . D o no t tre at pe sts w iththi s pr oduc t. [T ab le om itt ed ] * On e le ve l ORTHO W HIRLYBIR D(R) Han d S pr ead er h ol ds 2 l bs of p ro du ct
. N O T E : O ne le ve l m ea sur ing c up ( 8 f l oz ) hol d 5 1⁄2 oz of

gr anule s. T hr ee c ups equa l a ppr oxi m at el y

1 l b of pr oduc t.9

[T ab le om itt ed ] STOR AGE AN D D ISPO SA L: ST OR A GE : Ke ep p es ti ci de in or igi na l c on ta in er . D o n otp utin to f ood or drink container s. A void contam ination of fe ed and foodstuf fs. Store in a co ol, d ryp lac e, p re fe ra bl y in a l oc k ed st or age ar ea . D IS P OS A L: P R OD U C T - P ar ti all y f ill ed b ag m ay b e di sp ose d of b y se cu re ly w ra pp in g or igi na l c on ta in er in se ve ra l l aye rs of n ewsp ap er an d di sc ar d in trash. CON TAIN ER - D O N OT REUS E EM PT Y B AG. D iscard bag in tr ash. PRECA UTION AR

Y S TAT EME NTS HAZAR DOU S TO HUM AN S & DO MES TIC A NIM ALS C A U TI ON : Ha rm fu l i f ab sor be d th ro ug h sk in . A voi d co nt ac t w it h sk in , e ye s, or c lot hi ng . Wa sh t ho ro ug hl y with soa p an d w at er af te r ha nd lin g. FIR ST A ID: In case of sk in contact , wa sh sk

in w ith p lenty of soap and w ater. In case of eye contact, w ash eyes im m ediately w ith p lenty of wa ter. See a do ct or if ir ri ta ti on p er sis ts . N ot e to P hy sic ian s: Em er ge nc y in fo rm at ion c all1- 800- 454- 2333 . EN V IR O N MEN T A L H A Z A RD S: T his pe sti ci de is ex tr em el y tox ic to fi sh, bir ds, and other wildlife. Do not apply directly to wate r. Dr ift and runoff fr om treate d ar ea s m ay be ha zard ous to a quatic or ganis m s ina dj ac en t a quatic sit es . Co ve r or inc or por at e spi lls
. D o no t c ont am inate w at er w he n di spos ing of

e qui pm en t w as hw at er s. N OT IC E: Bu ye r ass um es allr es po ns ib ili tyf or saf et y an d us e no t in ac co rd an ce with d ir ec ti on s. Me dic al I nf

orm at ionc al l 1- 800- 454- 2333 Pr oduc t I nf

orm at ionc al l 1- 800- 225- 2883 Solaris(T M) O RT H O (R), W H IRL E Y BI RD (R), F L E A -B -G O N (R), S O L A RI S( T M) T ra de m ar ks of Mo nsanto Co m

pany10

Dursban(R) Tr adem ark of D owE lanco (C ) Mon santo Co m

pany 199 5 Manuf ac tur ed f or T he S O L A RI S G ro up o f Mon santo Co m

pany P. O
. Bo x 50 08 San R am on C A945 83- 0603 Fo rm 8- 735- 01 /

P ro duc t 55 02 E PARe g. N o. 239 -2 570 EP A E st 589 95-MO-1 , 34704-NB- 1 , 769-G A- 1 A F S Superscript is first letter of lot num ber Made in US A