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# Uni ted States Court of A

p p eal s

Fo r t h e Sevent h Cir c uit

N o

. 19- 2082

C A L V IN H O R N E

, Plaint iff- Appe llant

,

v.

E L E C T R IC E E L M A N U F A C T

U R IN G

C O M P A N Y

, I N C

. , e t al.

,
De fe ndant s

- Appe lle e s

.

A p p ea l fr o m t h e U n it ed S t a t es Dis t r ic t C o ur t fo r t h e

N o r t h er n Dis t r ic t of Illin o is

, E a s t er n Div is i on

. N o. 1 : 1 7 -c v -0 8 08 0

— R on a ld A

. G u zmá n , Jud g e

.

A R G U E D J A N U

A R Y 23, 2020

— D E C ID E D F E B R U A R Y 10, 2021

B ef o r e R O

V N E R

, H A M IL T O N

, an d S C U D D E R

, C ir c uit J udge s

.

R O V N E R

, C ir c uit J udge

. C al v i n H o r n e w as i n j u r ed w h i l e

u si n g a d r a i n r o d d i n g mach i n e mad e b y E l ect r i c E el M a n u f act u r i n g C o m pan

y , In c. (“E l ect r i c E el ”)

, an d r en t ed t o h i m b y

H o me D epo t US A, In c. ( “H o m e D epo t ”)

. H e b r o u gh t cl ai ms agai n s t t h e d ef en d a n t s fo r n egl i gen ce, b r each o f w ar r an t y , an d2 N o

. 1 9- 2082

st r i ct pr o d u ct l i ab i l i t y

, amo n g o t h er t h i n gs. Th e d i st r i c t co u r t

gr an t ed su

mmar y j u d gmen t i n f av o r o f t h e d ef en d an t s. W e
af f i r m i n par t

, an d v acat e an d r eman d i n p ar t

.

I

.

In r ev i ew i n g t h i s gr an t o f a mo t i o n f o r summar y ju d gmen t

,

w e ex ami n e t h e r eco r d i n t h e li g ht m o st f av o r ab l e t o t h e

n o n mo v a n

t

, H o r n e, an d co n st r u e al l r easo n ab l e i n f er en ces f r o m

t h e ev i d en ce i n h i s f av o r

. Ande r s o n v

. Libe r t y Lobby

, I nc

. , 477

U. S

. 242, 255 ( 1986) ; Y

ahnke v

. K

ane C ount y

, I ll.

, 823 F

. 3d 1066,

1070 ( 7t h C i r

. 2 016)

. T h e r ev i ew o f t h e r eco r d w as co mpl i cat ed

i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t w h en t h e par t i es f ai l ed t o f u l l y co mpl y w i t h

L o cal R u l e 56. 1. 1 In h i s r espo n se t o t h e d ef en d an t s’ Lo cal R u l e

56. 1( a) (3) st a t emen t o f mat er i al f act s, H o r n e f ai l ed t o s u ppo r t

h i s d en i al s o f cer t ai n o f t h e d ef en d an t s ’ f act s w i t h speci f i c

r ef er en ces t o t h e r eco r d

. T h e d i st r i ct co u r t t h er ef o r e d ee m e d

H o r n e “t o h av e ad mi t t ed al l pr o per l y s uppo r t ed mat er i al f act s

1 T h a t R ule r eq uir es t h e m ov a n t t o fur n is h “ a s t at em en t of m a t er i a l fa c t s

a s t o w h ic h t h e m o v i n g p a r t y c o n t en d s t h er e is n o gen uin e is s ue a n d t h at

en t it le t h e m o v in g p a r t y t o a j ud gm en t a s a m a t t er o f l aw

. ” E a c h fa c t m us t

b e s u p p o r t ed b y “ s p ec i fic r efer en c es t o t h e a ffid a v it s, p a r t s of t h e r ec o r d

,

a n d o t h er sup p o r t i n g m a t er ia ls r elied up o n

. ” In t ur n , t h e p a r t y o p p o s i n g

s um m a r y j ud gm en t m us t in c lud e “ a r es p o n s e t o ea c h n um b er ed

p ar a gr a p h in t h e m o v in g p a r t y ’ s s t a t em en t

, in c lud in g, in t h e c a s e o f a n y
d i sa gr eem en t

, s p ec ific r efer en c es t o t h e a ffid a v it s , p a r t s of t h e r ec or d

, an d

o t h er sup p o r t in g m a t er i a l s r elied up o n [. ]” In a d d it io n , t h e n o n m o v an t

m ay file “ a s t a t em en t

... o f a n y a d d it io n al fa c t s t h a t r eq uir e t h e d en i al o f

s um m a r y j ud gm en t

, in c l u d i n g r efer en c es t o t h e a ffid a v it s , p a r t s of t h e

r ec o r d

, a n d o t h er s up p o r t in g m at er ia l s r elied up o n

. ” T h e R ule w a r n s , “ A ll

m at er ia l fa c t s s et fo r t h in t h e s t a t em en t r eq uir ed o f t h e m o v i n g p a r t y w ill

b e d ee m e d t o b e a d m i t t ed un les s c o n t r ov er t ed b y t h e s t a t em en t of t h e

o p p o s in g p a r t y

. ” L o c a l R ule 5 6. 1 (b )(3 )(C ).N o

. 19- 2082 3

i n t h e d ef en d an t s’ s t at emen t

. ” Hor ne v

. Home De p ot USA, Inc

. , 2019 WL 556709, * 1 n

. 1 ( N

. D

. Il l

. Fe b

. 1 2

, 2019) ( h er eaf t er

“ Hor ne I ” )

. 2 T h e co u r t “al so d i sr egar d ed sev e r a l i mmat er i al

f act s co n t ai n ed i n t h e par t i es’ Lo cal R u l e 56. 1 st at emen t s, as

w el l as st at emen t s an d /o r r espo n ses t h a t ar e n o t su ppo r t ed b y

t h e ev i d en ce ci t ed

. ” I d

. As i s appar en t f r o m t h e d i st r i ct c o u r t ’s

r eci t at i o n o f t h e mat er i al f act s, t h e co u r t d i d cr ed i t c er t a i n

s t a t e m en t s t h at H o r n e pr o per l y su ppo r t ed i n h i s o w n st at e

men t o f m at er i al fact s. R

. 172. N o n e o f t h e par t i es co n t est ed t h e

co u r t ’s d eci si o n t o d eem cer t ai n f act s a d m i t t ed an d t o d i sr egar d o t h er asser t ed f act s a s i mmat er i al o r u n su ppo r t ed

. W

e
h av e t h er ef o r e l ar g e l y a d o pt ed t h e d i st r i ct c o u r t ’s v er si o n o f

t h e f act s f o r su

mmar y j u d gmen t pu r po ses.

O n J u l y 21, 2017, H o r n e n o t i ced t h at t h e mai n sew er d r a i n
f o r h i s h o u se w as cl o gged

. H e d eci d ed t o r en t an el ect r i c d r a i n

r o d d er f r o m H o me D epo t s o t h at h e co u l d at t empt t o cl ear t h e
d r ai n

. Ho r n e w en t t o t h e t o o l r en t al d epar t men t at t h e H o me

D epo t i n H o mew o o d

, Il l i n o i s, an d t o l d a n e m p l o y ee t h a t h e

n eed ed a n el ect r i c r o d d er

. T h e empl o y ee sel ect ed a m ach i n e

an d pr esen t ed i t t o Ho r n e, wh o t h en si gn ed a t h r ee- p age r en t al

co n t r a ct

. T h e en t i r e r en t al p r o cess l ast ed appr o x i mat e l y t en

mi n u t es.

T h e co n t r act i d en t i fi ed t h e r en t ed d ev i c e as “D r ai n C l ean er
100' x 3 / 4 "

, ” wi t h P ar t N u mb er 0448505995. T h e equ i pmen t

co r r espo n d i n g t o t h at par t n u mb er w as an E l ect r i c E el

2 In t h eir a p p ella t e b r ief, t h e d efen d a n t s c la im t h at “ t h e c our t d eem ed a ll

o f d efen d an t s ’ s t a t em en t s of m a t er ia l fa c t a d m it t ed

. ” B r ief o f D efen d a n t s

A p p ellees

, a t 1 2

. T h a t is a n o v er s t a t em en t ; t h e c o ur t lim it ed t h e a d m is

s io n s t o t h e d efen d a n t s ’ “ p r o p er ly sup p o r t ed ” s t a t em en t s o f fa c t

.4 N o

. 1 9- 2082

M o d el R

, w h i c h h ad b een sh i pped t o t h e Ho mew o o d st o r e o n

M ay 2, 2017. T h at p a r t i cu l a r mach i n e h ad b een a ssemb l ed

man u al l y by E l ect r i c E el empl o y ee R i ch ar d B er r y

. B er r y t est ed

t h e mach i n e b ef o r e i t w as sh i pped t o t h e H o mew o o d H o me

D epo t

, en su r i n g t h at t h e fo o t ped al t h at act ed as an o n / o ff

sw i t ch w a s w o r k i n g pr o per l y , an d t h at t h e f o r w ar d / r ev er se

t o ggl e sw i t c h al so w o r k ed

. Wh en t h e m a ch i n e i s w o r k i ng

pr o per l y , t h e o per at o r p r esses d o w n o n t h e fo o t ped al t o st ar t

t h e mo t o r o n t h e d r ai n r o d d er , cau si n g t h e cab l e (an d t h e cage

i n w h i ch t h e o n e h

u n d r ed f o o t cab l e i s co i l ed ) t o r o t at e. Wh en

t h e p ed al i s r el eased

, t h e mo t o r st o ps. O n M ay 7, 2017, o n e d ay
af t er a cu st o mer r et u r n ed t h e mach i n e an d j u st f i v e d ay s af t er

t h e d ev i ce h ad b een d el i v er ed t o t h e st o r e, a Ho me D epo t empl o y ee d et er mi n ed t h at t h e f o o t ped al w as d ef ect i v e

. T h e ped al w as “l eak i n g a i r ” an d t h e H o me D epo t empl o y ee

r epai r ed t h e mach i n e b y r epl aci n g t h e f o o t ped a l o n M ay 10.

Pr i o r t o t h e ev en t a t i ssu e h er e, H o r n e h ad r en t ed el ect r i c
d r ai n r o d d er s f r o m H o me D epo t a h an d f u l o f t i mes o v er a

per i o d o f man

y y ear s t o cl ear t h e same d r ai n at h i s h o me. T h e

r o d d er h e r ent e d o n J u l y 21, 2017, appear ed d i f f er en t f r o m

t h o s e h e r en t ed i n t h e past

. T h i s m ach i n e w as “r agged y ” an d

“k i n d o f o l d

. ” It h ad peel i n g pai n t

, w as r u st y , an d h ad a “d i n gy

y el l o w ” p l ast i c co v er o v er t h e mach i n e’s cage an d cab l e. H o r n e
d i d n o t co mpl ai n ab o u t t h e co n d i t i o n o f t h e mach ine at t h e

t i me o f t h e r en t al b ecau se t h e H o me D epo t e m p l o y ee h ad

sel ect ed i t an d i t s eemed f i n e t o u se.

H o r n e t o o k t h e mach i n e h o me a n d r ead t h e o p er at i n g

man u al t h a t H o me D epo t pr o v i d ed

. T w o f r i en d s , P er r y B en

n et t

an d R egi n al d T

o l l i v er , w er e w i t h H o r n e as h e s et u p t h e r o d d er

an d b egan t o u s e i t

. Af t er p o si t i o n i n g t h e r o d d er n ear anN o

. 19- 2082 5

o u t d o o r access po r t t o t h e d r ai n , H o r n e man

u al l y l o w er ed t h e
d ev i c e’s cab l e u

n t i l i t r eac he d t h e b o t t o m o f t h e access pi p e,

appr o x i mat el y t h r ee t o f o u r f eet u n d er gr o u

n d

. At t h at d ept h

, t h i s v er t i cal s ect i o n o f p i pe co n n ect ed t o a h o r i zo n t al pi pe t h at

ex t en d ed i n t w o d i r ect i o n s, t o w ar d t h e h o u se an d t o w ar d t h e

st r eet

. W i t h t h e f o r w ar d /r ev er se t o ggl e sw i t ch i n t h e f o r w a r d

po si t i o n , H o r n e pr essed d o w n o n t h e f o o t ped a l i n o r d er t o

ca u s e t he cab l e t o r o t at e an d ex t en d i n t o t h e sect i o n o f

h o r i zo n t al pi pe l ead i n g t o w ar d t h e st r eet

. Af t er t h e cab l e mad e

t h e t u r n , H o r n e l i f t ed h i s fo o t f r o m t h e p ed al so t h at h e co u l d

man u al l y ex t en d t he cab l e i n t o t h e d r ai n u n t i l i t r each ed an

o b st r u c t i o n

. H e t h en pu t h i s f o o t b ack o n t h e ped al i n o r d er t o

a dv a nce t h e cab l e t h r o u gh t h e o b st r u ct i o n

. T h e c ab l e w as

ex t en d ed appr o x i mat el y sev en t o n i n e f eet i n t o t h e d r ai n at t h at

po i n t

. As t h e cage and c a b l e r o t at ed

, B en n et t s a w a ben d o r
k i n k i n t h e c a b l e as i t emer ged f r o m t h e cage o f t h e mach i n e.

H e al er t ed H o r n e, w h o t h en al so saw t h e k i n k i n t h e par t o f t h e
cab l e t h at w as u

n spo o l i n g f ro m t h e c age o f t h e mach i n e. H e

t o o k h i s f o o t o ff t h e ped al an d r emo v e d hi s h an d s f r o m t h e
cab l e.

T h e k i n k ed par t o f t h e cab l e h ad n o t y et r each ed t h e d r a i n

w h en H o r n e st o pped t he d e v i ce. Ben n et t ad v i sed h i m t o n o t

pu t t he b e nt cab l e d o w n t h e pi pe, fear i n g i t co u l d cr ack t h e pi pe. In o r d er t o r emo v e t h e cab l e f r o m t h e d r ai n , H o r n e pl aced t h e t o ggl e s w i t ch i n t o t h e r ev er se po si t i o n an d t h en

pr essed d o w n o n t h e f o o t p ed al

. B u t t h e po w er ed r ev er se d i d

n o t w o r k

, a n d no t h i n g h appen ed w h en Ho r n e p r essed d o w n

o n t h e ped al

. Ho r n e t h en d eci d ed t o r emo v e t h e cab l e b y h an d

so t h at h e co u l d r et u r n t h e mal f u n ct i o ni n g mach i n e t o H o me

D epo t a n d ex ch a n ge i t f o r an o t h er

. As T o l l i v er w at ch ed

, H o r n e6 N o

. 1 9- 2082

t u gged t h e cab l e w i t h b o t h h an d s, appl y i n g an amo u n t o f fo r ce

t h a t h e d escr i

b ed a s “b a r e l y n o n e. ” T h e cab l e i mmed i at el y

w r apped ar o u

n d h i s r i gh t f o r e ar m an d h an d

, an d h e w as
f l i p ped o v er an d t h r o w n t o t h e gr o u n d

. T he m a c hi n e al so
f l i p ped o v e r

. T

o l l i v er co n fi r med H o r n e’s acco u n t o f t h e cab l e

w r appi n g a r o u

n d Ho r n e’s ar m an d fl i ppi n g b o t h H o r n e an d

t h e mach i n e t o t he g r o u n d

. A d i st r act ed B en

n et t d i d n o t see
h o w H o r n e w as t h r o w n t o t h e gr o u n d b u t saw H o r n e o n t h e

gr o u n d seco n d s a f t er ad v i si n g h i m o f t h e k i n k i n t h e cab l e.

H o r n e’s r i g ht h an d w as b ad l y i n ju r ed b y t h e cab l e an d

, af t er

t h e w o u n d b ecame gan gr en o u s, mo st o f h i s r i gh t i n d ex f i n ger
h ad t o be ampu t at ed

.

H o r n e su ed H o me D e p o t an d E l ect r i c E el i n st at e co u r t

, b r i n gi n g cl ai ms o f n egl i gen ce an d br each o f w ar r an t y agai n st

b o t h d ef en d an t s

. H e al so b r o u ght a cl ai m agai n st E l ect r i c E el

f o r st r i ct l i ab i l i t y f o r pr o d u ci n g a d ef ect i v e an d d an ger o u s

pr o d u ct

. H o r n e l a t er ad d ed a c l a im a gai n st H o me Depo t f o r

spo l i a t i o n wh en t h e co m pan y l o st t h e m a ch i n e a t i ssu e m o n t h s
af t er H o r n e’s l a w y er ask ed t h e c o mpa n y t o pr eser v e i t as

ev i d en c e i n Ho r n e’s ci v i l act i o n

. T h e d ef en d an t s r emo v ed t h e

case t o fed er al co u r t an d ev en t u al l y mo v ed f o r summar y j u d gmen t

.

In gr an t i n g j u d gmen t i n f a v o r o f H o me D epo t o n t h e

n egl i gen c e an d w ar r an t y cl ai ms, t h e co u r t r el i ed en t i r el y o n a
b r o ad l y d r af t ed ex cu l pat o r y cl au se i n t h e r en t al co n t r act

. T h e

c o u r t co n cl u d ed t h at t h e spo l i at i o n cl ai m w as “d er i v at i v e” o f

H o r n e’s o t h er cl ai ms an d fai l ed b ecau s e Ho r n e co u l d n o t

d emo n s t r at e t h a t t h e l o ss o f t h e ev i d en ce w as t h e pr o x i m at e

cau se o f h i s i n ab i l i t y t o pr o v e h i s su b s t an t i v e cl ai ms. Fo r t h e

st r i ct l i ab i l i t y cl ai m b r o u gh t agai n st E l ect r i c E el

, t h e co u r tN o

. 19- 2082 7

f o u n d t h at H o r n e f ai l ed t o pr o d u ce ex p er t o r o t h er ev i d en ce o f

a d esi gn o r man

u fact u r i n g d ef ect i n t h e mach i n e t h a t h e u sed

. T h e w ar r a n t y cl ai m fai l ed f o r l ack o f co n t r act u al pr i v i t y
b et w een H o r n e an d E l ect r i c E el

. T h e co u r t r ej ect ed t h e

n egl i ge nc e cl ai m agai n st E l ect r i c Eel b ecau se H o r n e f ai l ed t o

r ai se a mat er i a l is s u e o f f a ct r egar d i n g t h e co n d i t i o n o f t h e
mach i n e w h en i t l ef t t h e man u fact u r er ’s co n t r o l

.

Af t er t h e co u r t gr an t ed j u d gmen t i n f av o r o f t h e d ef en d an t s,

H o rne f i l ed a R u l e 59 mo t i o n co n t en d i n g t h a t t h e c o u r t

mi sappl i ed t h e par t i es’ b u r d en o f p r o o f i n sum mar y j u d gmen t

pr o ceed i n gs, mi sco n st r u ed Il l i n o i s l a w , a n d i m p r o p er l y i gn o r ed

mat er i al qu est i o n s o f f act t h at p r ecl u d ed summar y ju d gmen t

. T h e co u r t d en i ed t h e mo t i o n , co n cl u d i n g t h at H o r n e co u l d h av e

r ai sed t h e i ssu es ear l i er an d al so t h at h e w as si mpl y r ecast i n g

ear l i er ar gu men t s. H o r n e appeal s.

I I

.

O n appeal

, H o r n e asser t s t h at t h e d i st r ic t co u r t er r ed i n

gr an t i n g j u d gmen t i n f a v o r o f Ho m e Depo t o n t h e b a si s o f t h e

ex cu l p at o r y pr o v i si o n

. T h at p r o v i si o n i s u n en f o r ceab l e, h e

co n t en d s, b ecau se H o m e D epo t mat er i al l y b r each ed t h e

co n t r a ct by pr o v i d i n g h i m w i t h a d r ai n cl ean er t h at w a s n o t i n

go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n , co n t r ar y t o an ex pr ess p r o mi se i n t h e

agr eemen t

. H e ar gu es t h at t h e d i st r i ct co u r t i mpr o per l y pl aced

t h e b u r d en o n h i m t o d i s pr o v e H o m e D epo t ’s af f i r mat i v e
d ef en se. In an

y case, H o r n e po i n t s o u t

, t h e ev i d en ce r egar d i n g

t h e co n d i t i o n o f t h e mach i n e w as i n co n f l i ct

, an d t h at al o n e
sh o u l d h av e pr ecl u d ed s u mmar y j u d gmen t

. H o r n e a l so ar gu es

t h a t t h e r el ease a nd e x cu l pat o r y pr o v i si o n s o f t h e r en t al8 N o

. 1 9- 2082

co n t r a ct a r e pr o ced u r al l y a n d su b st an t i v el y u

n co n sci o n ab l e. 3

H e seek s t o r easser t h i s spo l i at i o n c l ai m agai n st H o me D epo t

,

co n t en d i n g t h at t h e co mpan y ’s l o ss o f t h i s ev i d en ce i mpai r ed

h i s ab i l i t y t o p r o v e t h at t h e d ev i c e was d ef ect i v e. As f o r t h e j u d gmen t i n f av o r o f E l ect r i c E el

, H o r n e a r gu es t h a t t h e d i s t r i ct

co u r t er r ed i n r u l i n g t h a t h i s f ai l u r e t o pr esen t ex p er t t est i mo n y

w as f at al t o h i s cl ai ms, especi al l y i n l i gh t o f t est i m o n y f r o m

H o r n e an d h i s ey e w i t n esses r egar d i n g t h e o per at i o n o f t he

m a c hi ne o n t h e d ay o f t h e acci d en t

. Fi n a l l y , H o r n e mai n t ai n s

t h a t t he di s t r i ct co u r t er r ed i n qu ash i n g a su bpo en a i ssu ed t o

R G I S

, L L C

, a n o n

- par t y t h at t r ack ed i n v en t o r y f o r H o m e

D epo t ’s t o o l r en t al s

.

H o me D epo t r espo n d s t h a t H o r n e w ai v ed h i s pr i mar y

ar gu men t o n a ppeal

, n amel y , t h at t h e e xcu l pat o r y cl au se w as

u n en f o r ceab l e b ecau se o f H o me D epo t ’s mat er i al b r each

. If t h e

ar gu men t w as n o t w ai v ed

, H o me D epo t ar gu es i n t h e
al t er n at i v e t h at t h e u

n d i spu t ed ev i d en ce d emo n st r at es t h at t h e
mach i ne w a s i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. H o me D epo t al so

asse r t s t h at t h e ex cu l p at o r y cl au se i s en f o r ceab l e an d n o t

co n t r a r y t o p u

b l i c p o l i cy u

n d er Il l i n o i s l aw

, an d t h at t h e

spo l i a t i o n c l ai m w as pr o per l y d i smi ssed

. Fi n al l y , H o me D epo t

co n t e n d s t h at t h e d i st r i ct co u r t d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cr et i o n i n

qu ash i n g t h e su

b po en a i ssu ed t o R GIS b ecau s e i t w as u n t i mel y

.

3 In t h e d i s t r ic t c o ur t

, H o r n e d id n o t p r es er v e a n ar gum en t r ega r d i n g

p r o c ed ur a l u n c o n s c i o n a b ilit y , w aiv in g t h e is s ue. H e d id c o n t en d t h a t t h e

c on t r a c t v i o la t ed p ub lic p o l ic y , a c la im t h a t h e n o w s eem s t o r efr a m e a s

s u bs t a nt iv e un c o n sc io n a b ilit y

. W e w ill a d d r es s h is p ub lic p o lic y a r gum en t

b ut a n y s t a n d -a l o n e a s s er t io n o f s ub s t a n t iv e un c o n sc io n a b i l it y w a s als o

w a iv ed

.N o

. 19- 2082 9

E l ect r i c E el mai n t ai n s t h at H o r n e’s f act u al a dmi s si o n s d ef eat

h i s cl ai m fo r n egl i gen t man u f act u r i ng , a n d t h at H o r n e l ack s

an y ev i d en ce o f d ef ect i v e d esi gn

. E l ect r i c Eel al so co n t en d s t h at

an y cl ai ms fo r b r e a c h o f w ar r an t y f ai l b ecau se t h er e i s n o

co n t r a ct u al pr i v i t y b et w een H o r n e an d E l ect r i c E el

, a nd

b ecau se H o r n e l ack s ev i d en c e su ppo r t i n g h i s cl ai ms.

A.

W e r ev i ew t h e d i st r i ct co u r t ’s gr an t o f summar y j u d gmen t

de novo , an d as w e n o t ed ab o v e, w e ex ami n e t h e r eco r d i n t h e
l i gh t mo st fav o r a b l e t o H o r n e an d co n st r u e a l l r easo n a b l e

i n f er en c es f r o m t h e ev i d en c e i n h i s f av o r

. Ande r s o n , 477 U. S

. at

255; Mc C ot t r

e ll v

. W hit e , 933 F

. 3 d 6 51, 661–62 ( 7t h C i r

. 2019)

. S u mmar y j u d gmen t i s appr o pr i a t e w h en t h er e ar e n o gen u i n e
d i spu t es o f mat er i al f act an d t h e mo v an t i s en t i t l ed t o j u d gmen t as a mat t er o f l aw

. Fed

. R

. C i v

. P

. 56( a) ; A nde r s on , 477

U. S

. at 247–48; Mc C ot t r e ll

, 933 F

. 3d at 662. “Al t h o u gh f ed er al

l aw go v er n s pr o ced u r e i n a c a s e i n w h i ch f ed er al co u r t j u r i s d i ct i o n i s pr emi sed o n d i v er si t y o f c i t i zen sh i p, st at e l a w appl i es t o s u

b st an t i v e i s s u e s. ” Skyr is e C ons tr

. Gr oup, LLC v

. Anne x C ons t r

. , LLC

, 956 F

. 3d 950, 956 ( 7t h C i r

. 2020) ; Fe dnav

I nt ’l, Lt d. v

. C ont ine nt a l I ns

. C o

. , 624 F

. 3d 8 34, 838 ( 7t h C i r

. 2 0 1 0 ) ; R LI I ns

. C o. v

. C ons e c o, Inc

. , 543 F

. 3d 384, 390 (7t h C i r

. 2008)

. “ W hen n ei t h er par t y r ai ses a c o n f l i ct o f l aw i ssu e i n a
d i v er s i t y case, t h e appl i cab l e l aw i s t h at o f t he s t at e i n w h i ch

t h e fed er al co u r t s i t s. ” R LI I ns

. , 543 F

. 3d at 390. N o par t y r ai sed

a co n fl i ct o f l aw i ssu e h er e, a n d Il l i n o i s l aw t h er ef o r e appl i es t o

t h e su b st an t i v e i ssu es.

H o r n e d ev o t es mu ch o f h i s b r i ef i n g t o d et a i l i n g a l l e ged

er r o r s i n an al y si s b y t h e d i s t r i ct co u r t

. “B u t si n ce t h e r ev i ew o f10 N o

. 1 9- 2082

su mmar y j u d gmen t i s pl en ar y , er r o r s o f a n al y si s b y t h e d i s t r i ct

co u r t ar e i m mat er i al ; w e ask w h et h er w e w o u l d h av e gr an t ed

su mmar y j u d gmen t o n t h i s r eco r d

. ” T hor n v

. Sunds t r and

Ae r o s p ac e C or

p. , 207 F

. 3d 383, 386 ( 7t h C i r

. 2000)

. Se e als o T obe y

v

. E x t e l / J WP

, I nc

. , 985 F

. 2d 330, 332 ( 7t h C i r

. 1993) ( “T h e

qu est i o n w h et h er a mo v an t i s en t i t l ed t o summar y j u d gmen t i s

o n e o f l aw —o n e t h er ef o r e t h at w e r ev i ew de novo , w h i c h i s t o

s a y w i t h o u t d ef er en ce f o r t h e v i ew o f t h e d i st r i ct ju d ge a nd

h en ce al mo st as i f t h e mo t i o n h ad been mad e t o u s d i r ect l y

. ”)

. W i t h t h ese st an d ar d s i n mi n d

, w e b egi n wi t h H o r ne ’s

ar gu m e n t t h at t h e ex cu l pat o r y pr o v i si o n w a s u n en f o r ceab l e
b ecau se Ho me D epo t b r each ed i t s pr i mar y o b l i gat i o n u n d er

t h e r en t a l a gr eemen t

.

1.

B ecau se H o me D epo t asser t s t h at H o r n e w a i v e d t h i s

ar gu men t r egar d i n g t he co mpan y ’s mat er i al b r each o f t h e

r en t al co n t r act

, w e mu st f i r st d i scu ss t h e pr o ceed i n gs i n t h e
d i st r i ct co u r t i n s o me d et ai l

. Ho me D epo t so u gh t summar y j u d gmen t o n al l o f H o r n e’s cl ai ms o n t h e b asi s o f ex c u l pat o r y
cl au ses i n t h e r en t al co n t r act

. T h e p r i m ar y ex cu l pat o r y cl a u se

pr o v i d es i n r el ev an t par t :

R E L E A S E

, I N D E M N I F I C A T I O N A N D

W AIVE R O F D AM AGE S

. TO T H E FUL L E S T

E X T E N T PE R M IT T E D B Y L A W

, C US T O M E R

IN D E M N IFIE S

, R E L E AS ES

, W AIVE S AN D

H O L D S T HE H O M E D E PO T H AR M L E S S

FR O M AN D AGAIN S T AL L C LAIM S

, L O S S E S

, E X PE N S E S ( IN C L UD IN G A T T O R N E Y ’S FE E S

A N D E X P E N S E S )

, L I A B I L I T I E S A N DN o

. 19- 2082 11

D A M A G E S ( I N C L U D I N G P E R S O N A L

I N J UR Y

, D E A T H

, PR O PE R TY D AM AGE

, L O S T

PR O FIT S

, AN D S PE C IAL

, IN C ID E N T AL AN D

C O NS EQ UE N T IAL D AM AGE S ) IN AN Y W A Y

C O NN E C TE D WIT H T H E E Q UIPM E N T

, IT S

O PE R A T IO N O R US E

, O R AN Y D E FE C T O R

F AIL UR E T H E R E O F O R A B R E AC H O F TH E

H O M E D EPO T ’S O B L IGA T IO NS H E R EIN

.

R

. 151- 3, ¶ 9. H o me D epo t a l so r el i ed o n an assu mpt i o n

- o f

- r i sk

cl au se wh i ch pr o v i d es, i n r el ev an t p ar t :

C US T O M ER L IAB IL IT Y

. D UR IN G TH E

R E N T AL PE R IO D

, C US TO M E R AS S U M E S A L L

R IS K S AS S O C IA

T E D WIT H AN D FUL L

R ES P O N S IB IL IT Y FO R T H E PO S S E S S IO N

, C US T O DY AN D O PE R A TIO N O F TH E

E Q U I P M E N T

, I N C L U D I N G

, B U T N O T

L I M I T E D T O

, R E N T A L C H A R G E S

, C US T O M E R T R AN S PO R T

, L O AD IN G AN D

UN L O AD IN G, PR O PE R T Y D AM AGE S AN D

D E S T R UC T IO N

, L O S S E S

, PE R S O NA L I N J U R Y

, AN D D E A

T H

.

R

. 151- 3, ¶ 7. W

e w i l l r ef er t o t h ese t w o pr o v i si o n s t o get h er as

t h e “ E x cu l pat o r y C l au se. ” H o r n e co n t en d ed b el o w t h at

, u n d er

I l l i no i s l aw

, a par t y w h o i s i n mat er i al b r each may n o t t ak e
ad v an t age o f t er ms o f t h e co n t r act t h at b en ef i t t h at par t y , an d

so t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se co u l d n o t b e en f o r ced agai n st h i m
b ecau se H o me D epo t mat er i al l y b r each ed t h e co n t r act

.12 N o

. 1 9- 2082

2.

In set t i n g f o r t h t h e n at u r e o f t h e mat er i al br each

, H o r n e

ci t ed l an gu age f r o m t h e “Gen er al R espo n s i b i l i t i es” p ar agr aph

o f t h e r en t al co n t r act :

T h e H o me D epo t w i l l p r o v i d e C u st o mer t h e

t o o l ( s) i d en t i f i ed o n pag e 1 o f t h i s Agr eemen t ( t h e “E qu i p men t ”) “as i s” a n d i n go o d w o r k i n g

co n d i t i o n f o r t h e t i m e ( “R en t al P er i o d ”) an d

r en t al su b t o t al pr i ce i d en t i f i ed o n page 1 o f t h i s Agr eemen t ( “R en t a l Pr i ce”)

.

R

. 151- 3, ¶ 1 ( h er eaf t er “P ar a g r aph 1 ”)

. H o r n e asser t ed t h at

H o me D epo t p r o mi sed t h e n ew mach i n e asso ci at ed w it h t h e

par t n u m b er l i st ed i n t h e c o n t r act

, b u t i n st ead pr o v i d ed a
mach i n e t h at a ppear ed “o l d

, r agged y a n d r u s t y [

. ] ” R

. 170, at 2.

H e ex pl ai n ed :

H o me D epo t pr o m i sed t o pr o v i d e C al v i n [ H o r n e] w i t h t h e M o d el R d r ai n cl ean er i n go o d

w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n p e r t h e T o o l R en t al

A g r eemen t

. ... In st ead

, h e r ecei v ed a d r a i n
cl ean er w i t h si gn i f i c a n t f u n ct i o n al i ssu es, su ch

as: a pr e- ex i st i n g k i n k i n t h e cab l e h i d d en t o
C al v i n u n t i l af t er h e st ar t ed u si n g i t ...; a r ev er se

t o ggl e sw i t ch t h at w a s f au l t y ...; an d

, a f o o t ped al t h a t m al f u

n ct i o n ed w h en C a l v i n pr es s ed

d o w n o n i t

. ... H o me D epo t f ai l ed t o d el i v er o n

i t s pr o mi se t o C al v i n t h at t h e d r ai n cl ean e r

w o u l d b e i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

.N o

. 19- 2082 13

R

. 170, at 2–3 ( ci t at i o n s t o Ho r n e’s S t at emen t o f M at er i al Fact s

o mi t t ed )

. H e al so asser t ed t h at t h e mach i n e h e r ecei v ed l o o k ed

n o t h i n g l i k e t h e r o d d e rs he h ad u sed i n t h e past an d n o t h i n g
l i k e t h e ph o t o gr aph s o f n ew El ect r i c Eel mo d el s t h at H o me

D epo t p r o d u ced i n d i sco v er y as ex empl ar s o f t h e mach i n e t h ey
cl ai med t o h av e p r o v i d ed

. R

. 1 70, at 2, 5. H e co u l d n o t r ecal l

w h at t h e “M o d el R ” d es i gn at i o n mean t an d n o t ed t h at t h e

r en t al co n t r a ct i t sel f l i s t ed o n l y a par t n u mb er t h at H o me

D epo t su

b sequ en t l y h el d o u t t o b e ass o c i a t e d wi t h a n ew l y
assemb l ed E l ect r i c Eel M o d el R

.

In f u r t h er an ce o f h i s o b ser v a t i o n t h at t h e mach i n e appear ed

o l d ev en t h o u gh H o me D epo t c l ai m ed t h at i t h ad b een r ecen t l y
assemb l ed

, Ho r n e i n f er r ed t h at H o me D epo t pr o v i d e d hi m

w i t h t h e “w r o n g m ach i n e. ” Af t er asser t i n g r epeat ed l y t h at t h e
mach i n e h e w as gi v en h ad a d ef ect i v e f o o t ped al

, a d ef ect i v e
f o r w ar d /r ev er se t o ggl e sw i t c h

, an d a p r e -e xi s t i n g k i n k i n t h e

ca b l e , H o r n e su

mmed u p t h e b r each i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t

pr o ceed i n gs:

H er e , t h er e i s n o d o u b t t h a t H o m e D epo t

mat er i a l l y b r each ed t h e co n t r a ct b y p r o v i d i n g
C al v i n w i t h t h e w r o n g d r ai n cl ean er w h i ch

cau sed si gn i f i can t an d per m an en t i n j u r i es d u e t o

t h e d ef ect i v e co n d i t i o n o f t h e d r ai n cl ean er ; as

su ch

, H o me D epo t mu st n o t b e ab l e t o b en ef i t

f r o m t h e t er ms o f t h e c o n t r act

, i n cl u d i n g

en f o r cemen t o f t h e al l eged E x cu l pat o r y C l au se.

R

. 170, at 6. H o r n e p r o v i d ed v ar i at i o n s o n t h i s t h eme t h at t h e

E x cu l p at o r y C l au s e w a s u n en f o r ceab l e d u e t o H o me Depo t ’s

b r each

. Fo r ex ampl e, b ecau se t h e co n t r act pr o mi sed a m ach i n e14 N o

. 1 9- 2082

i n go o d w o rki n g o r d er , h e asser t ed t h at i n

j u r i es cau sed b y a
d ef ect i v e mach i n e w er e n o t w i t h i n t h e sc o p e o f r i sk s

co n t empl at ed b y t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l a u s e

. R

. 170, at 10–11.

H o r n e al so ar gu ed t h at t h e ex cu l pat o r y pr o v i si o n s o f t h e

co n t r a ct co n t r ad i ct ed t h e ex pr ess p r o mi se t o pr o v i d e a m ach i n e

i n go o d w o r k i n g o r d er

, co n t r ar y t o Il l i n o i s case l aw t h at h o l d s

t h a t a par t y may n o t pr o mi se t o act i n a cer t a i n man n er i n o n e

par t o f a co n t r a ct a n d t h en exc u l p a t e i t s el f f r o m l i ab i l i t y f o r
b r each o f t h at v er y pr o m i se i n an o t h er par t o f t h e co n t r act

. R

. 170, at 1 0

. H o r ne a l so cl ai m ed t h at t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l a u se

v i o l at ed pu

b l i c po l i cy

, an d t h at t h e co n t r act i t sel f w as si l en t

ab o u t t h e r i sk s an d d an ger s o f o per at i n g t h e mach i n e, m ak i n g

n o men t i o n o f t h e t y pe o f i n j u r y t h at H o r n e s u st ai n ed

. R

. 170,

at 6–9.

3.

In i t s r epl y

, H o m e D epo t asser t ed t h at

, b ecau se H o r n e d i d

n o t su e f o r b r each o f co n t r act

, h i s r el i an ce o n co n t r act l aw w as

mi spl aced an d h a d n o b ear i n g o n t h e en f o r ceab i l i t y o f t h e

E x cu l p at o r y C l au se. 4 T h e co m pan y mad e mu ch o f H o r n e’s

i n f er en c e t h at he w as pr o v i d ed t h e “w r o n g mach i n e. ” H o me

4 H o r n e, o f c o u r s e, d id n o t a s ser t a st a n d -a lo n e c la im fo r b r e a c h o f

c on t r a c t in h is c o m p la in t

. In s t ea d

, w h en H o m e Dep o t s o u gh t t o t a ke

a d v a n t a ge o f t h e c o n t r a c t ’ s E x c ulp a t o r y C la us e, H o r n e a s s er t ed t h a t t h e

c om p an y c o uld n o t b en efit fr o m t h a t p r o v is io n in ligh t o f i t s o w n m a t er ia l

b r ea c h o f t h e c o n t r a c t

. A s w e d is c us s b elo w , b ec a us e H om e Dep ot r elied

o n a c o n t r a c t u a l d efen s e , H o r n e w a s en t it led t o in v o ke c o n t r a c t la w in

d i sp ut in g t h e a p p lic a b ilit y o f t h e E x c ulp a t or y Pr o v i sio n t o h is c la im s fo r

n egligen c e a n d b r ea c h o f w a r r a n t y

. M o r eo v er , as t h e d is t r ic t c o ur t n o t ed

, H o r n e’ s c la im fo r b r ea c h o f w a r r an t y is a c o n t r a c t -b a s ed c la im

, an d s o a

c on t r a c t -b a s ed a r g um en t is a p p r o p r ia t e.N o

. 19- 2082 15

D epo t co mpl ai n ed t h at

, u p t o t h at po i n t i n t h e l i t i gat i o n , H o r n e
h ad f o cu sed o n b ei n g p r o v i d ed a d ef ect i v e E l e c t r i c E el

mach i n e, an d w a s n o w t ak i n g t h e “co n t r ad i ct o r y po si t i o n ” t h at

h e w as pr o v i d ed t h e “w r o n g d r ai n cl ean er

. ” R

. 178, a t 3. H o r n e
ha d al l eged i n h i s co mpl ai n t t h at h e r en t ed an E l ect r i c E el

M o d el R d r ai n cl ean er an d w as o per at i n g t h at b r an d an d mo d el

w h en h e w as i n

j u r ed

. B ecau se H o r n e r ecei v ed t h e d r ai n c l ean er
l i st ed i n t h e co n t r act

, H o me D epo t d en i ed t h at i t m a t e r ia l l y
b r each ed t h e c o n t r act b y pr o v i d i n g “t h e w r o n g d r ai n cl ean er

. ”

R

. 178, at 4. Ho me D epo t al so ar gu ed t ha t t h e co n t r act

pr o mi sed n o p ar t i cu l ar mo d el

, an d speci f i ed t h at t h e m ach i n e

w o u l d b e pr o v i d ed “as i s. ” H o r n e, t h e co mpan y c o nt en d ed

, accept ed t h e mach i n e i n t h e co n d i t i o n i n wh i ch i t w as

pr esen t ed an d ex ecu t ed t h e c o n t r act b y u s i n g t h e d r ai n r o d d er

. H o m e D e p o t u r ged t h e d i st r i ct co u r t t o r ej ect an y ar gu men t

t h a t i t mat e ri a l ly b r each ed t h e co n t r act b ecau se t h e co n t r act

pr o mi sed o n l y t o d el i v er an el ect r i c r o d d er an d H o r n e r ecei v ed

an el ect r i c r o d d er

. H o me D epo t a s ser t ed t h at i t t h er ef o r e “f u l l y

co mpl i ed wi t h a n d per f o r med t h e agr eed t er ms o f t h e co n t r act

an d d emo n st r at ed n o mat er i al b r each

. ” R

. 178, at 6–7.

4.

T h e d i st r i ct co u r t accept ed Ho m e D epo t ’s ch ar act er i zat i o n

o f H o r n e’s c l ai m o f b r each o f co n t r a ct a s b ei n g t h a t h e w as

pr o v i d ed t h e “w r o n g mach i n e, ” an d r ej ect ed t h at c l a i m b ecau se

H o r n e h ad a l r ead y ad mi t t ed t h a t h e r ecei v ed t h e m ach i n e
d escr i b ed i n t h e co n t r act

. Am o n g t h e fact s t h at t h e co u r t

d eemed ad mi t t ed w er e: ( 1) t h at H o r n e r en t ed a n E l e c t r i c E el

M o d el R d r ai n cl ean er w i t h par t n u mb er 0 448505995, ( R

. 171,

¶ 18) ; ( 2) t h at af t e r s i gn i n g t h e c o n t r act f o r t h a t d ev i ce, h e

r et u r n ed t o h i s h o me w i t h t h at par t i cu l ar d r ai n cl ean er (R

. 171,16 N o

. 1 9- 2082

¶ 26) ; an d ( 3) t h at t h e M o d el R wi t h par t n u mb er 0 4 48505995

w as a ssemb l ed

, i n s pect ed an d d i st r i b u t ed t o H o me D epo t b y

E l ect r i c E el o n M ay 2, 2017 ( R

. 171, ¶ 36)

. H av i n g ad mi t t ed as

a f act u al mat t er t h at h e r ecei v ed t h e v er y m ach i n e l i st ed i n t h e

r en t al c o n t r act

, t h e d i st r i ct co u r t co n cl u d ed t h at t h er e w as n o
b r each f o r su ppl y i n g t h e “w r o n g m ach i n e. ”

B u t t h e co u r t er r ed i n a cce p t i n g H o me Depo t ’s

ch ar act er i zat i o n o f H o r n e’s ar gu men t r egar d i n g t h e n at u r e o f

t h e b r each

. T

o b e su r e, H o r n e’s summar y ju d gmen t b r i ef i n g i n

t h e d i st r i ct co u r t w as n o t a mo d el o f cl ar i t y

. B u t t h e f o c u s o n

t h e “w r o n g mach i n e” i n f er e nc e l ed t o a mi sappr eh en si o n o f

H o r n e’s act u al ar gu men t

, as w el l as a n u n f o u n d ed cl a i m b y

H o me D epo t t h at H o r n e “w ai v ed ” h i s ar gu men t ab o u t b r each

o f t h e “go o d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n ” cl au s e:

A t r u e r ead i n g o f pl ai n t i f f’s r espo n se t o H o m e

D epo t ’s mo t i o n f o r summar y j u d gmen t r ev ea l s

t h at i t i s co mpl et el y d ev o i d o f an y ar gu men t t h at

H o me D epo t b r each ed t h e C o n t r act b y f ai l i n g t o

pr o v i d e h i m w i t h t h e M ach i n e “i n go o d w o r k i n g

co n d i t i o n

. ” In st ead

, h e ar gu ed b ef o r e t h e d i st r i ct

co u r t t h at H o me D epo t b r each ed t h e C o n t r act

b y “pr o v i d i n g C al v i n w i t h t he w r o n g d r ai n
cl ean er

. ”

B r i ef o f D ef en d an t s- Appel l ees, a t 18. T h a t w a s n o t a “t r u e

r ead i n g” o f H o r n e’s r espo n se t o H o me D e po t ’s m o t i o n f o r

su mmar y j u d gmen t

. 5

5 H o m e Dep o t c o n c ed ed t h at

, “ [i]n h is r es p o n se t o H om e Dep o t ’ s m o t io n , (c on t in ued

. . . )N o

. 19- 2082 17

In h i s d i st r i ct co u r t r espo n se t o H o me Depo t ’s mo t i o n , H o r n e r epeat ed l y ar gu ed t h at H o me Depo t b r each ed t h e

co n t r a ct ’s ex pr ess pr o mi se t o pr o v i d e a m ach i n e i n go o d

w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n b y su ppl y i n g a d ev i ce w i t h a m al f u n ct i o n i n g
f o o t ped al

, an i n o per at i v e f o r w ar d /r ev er se t o ggl e sw i t ch

, an d

a p r e- ex i st i n g k i n k i n t h e c ab l e. R

. 170, at 2–3, 3, 6, 10, 11–12. 6

5 (.

. . c o n t in ued )

p l ain t iff d id a r g ue t h a t t h e w r o n g m ac h in e t h a t h e a lleged ly r ec eiv ed w a s

n o t in go o d w or k in g c o n d it io n b ut on ly in s up p o r t o f h i s a r g um en t t h at

t h e ex c ulp a t o r y c la us e in t h e c o n t r a c t v io la t ed Illin o is p ub lic p o lic y

. ” B r ief

o f Defen d a n t s

- A p p e l l ees , a t 1 8 n

. 1

. H o m e Dep o t ’ s a t t em p t t o lim it t h is

c on c es s io n t o a s ep a r a t e a r g um en t r ega r d i n g p u b l ic p olic y is n o t a fa ir

r ea d in g o f H o r n e’ s s um m a r y j u d gm en t b r ief a s a w h o le.

6 S ee R

. 1 7 0

, a t 2

– 3 (“ H o m e Dep ot p r o m is ed t o p r o v id e C a l v in w it h t h e

M o d el R d r ain c lea n er in go o d w o r kin g c o n d i t io n p er t h e T o o l R en t a l

A g r e e m en t

. ... In s t ea d

, h e r ec eiv ed a d r a in c lea n er w it h s ign ific a n t

fun c t io n a l is s ue s , s uc h a s : p r e-ex is t in g kin k in t h e c a b le

... ; a r ev er s e

t o g g l e s w i t c h t h a t w a s fa ult y

... ; a n d

, a fo ot p ed a l t h a t m a lfun c t io n ed

w h en C alv in p r es s ed d ow n on it

. ”); a t 3 (“ C a lv in ’ s in j ur ies w er e s u s t a in ed

b ec a us e t h e fo o t p ed a l a n d r ev er s e t oggle s w i t c h fa i l e d t o fun c t i o n

p r o p er ly

, c a us in g C a l v in t o h a v e t o m a n ua l l y r ev er se t h e kin ked c a b l e

. H o m e Dep o t fa iled t o d eliv er o n it s p r om i s e t o C a lv i n t h a t t h e d r a in

c l ea n er w o uld b e in go o d w o r kin g c o n d it io n

. ” ) a t 6 (“ H er e, t h er e is n o
d oub t t h a t H o m e Dep o t m a t er ia lly b r ea c h ed t h e c o n t r a c t b y p r o v i d i n g

C a lv in w i t h t h e w r o n g d r a in c lea n er w h ic h c a us ed s ign ific a n t a n d

p er m an en t in

j u r ies d ue t o t h e d efec t i v e c o n d it io n o f t h e d r a in c lea n er ; a s

s uc h

, H o m e Dep o t m us t n o t b e a b le t o b en efit fr om t h e t er m s o f t h e

c on t r a c t

, in c lud in g t h e en fo r c em en t o f t h e E x c u lp a t o r y C l aus e. ” ); at 6
(“ t h e o t h er s ign ific a n t d is p ut ed fa c t is w h et h er C a lv in r ec eiv ed a m a c h in e

t h at w a s in go o d w o r kin g c on d it io n as p r o m is ed b y H o m e Dep o t ” ); a t 1 0
(“ In o n e b r ea t h

, H o m e Dep o t w a r r an t s t o p r o v id e C a lv in w it h a go o d

w o r kin g d r a in c lea n er ; a n d

, in an o t h er b r ea t h

, H o m e Dep o t a t t em p t s t o (c on t in ued

. . . )18 N o

. 1 9- 2082

T h at H o r n e a l so ch ar act er i zed t h e r o d d er t h at w as s u ppl i ed as

t h e “w r o n g mach i n e” d o es n o t n egat e h i s man y r ef er en ces t o
b r each o f t h e “go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n ” c l au se b y pr o v i d i n g a
d ef ect i v e mach i n e, an al l egat i o n f o r w h i c h h e pr o v i de d mo r e

t h a n ad equ at e su ppo r t i n h i s o w n s t at emen t o f mat er i a l f a ct s.

T r u e, H o r n e’s r epet i t i o n o f t h i s ar gu men t i n d i f f er en t f o r mat s

u nd e r d i ff er en t sect i o n t i t l es i n h i s d i st r i ct c o u r t r espo n se i s

so mew h at cl u msy

, b u t t h e i ss u e w as n o t w a i v ed

. C f. Unit e d

St a t e s v

. W

anjiku

, 919 F

. 3d 472, 486 (7t h C i r

. 2019) ( w e may

r ev i ew ar gu men t s r el at ed t o pr eser v ed cl ai ms, an d a ch al l en ge
b el o w i s su f fi ci en t t o pr eser v e a n ar gu men t ev en i f i t i s a n ew

t w i s t b ased u po n ad d i t i o n al au t h o r i t y o n appeal ) ; B e w v

. C it y of C hic ago , 252 F

. 3d 891, 895–96 ( 7t h C i r

. 2001) ( w e w i l l u su al l y
ad d r ess a n ew ar g u m e nt mad e i n su ppo r t o f a cl ai m r ai sed

b el o w wh en t h e ar gu men t gr o w s o u t o f f act s pr esen t ed t o t h e
d i st r i ct co u r t ; o n ce a cl ai m i s pr o per l y pr esen t ed

, “par t i es ar e

n o t l i mi t ed t o t h e pr eci s e ar gu men t s t h ey m a d e b el o w

. ” ). H e

t h u s p r eser v ed h i s a r gu men t t h at t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se w as

u n en f o r ceab l e becau se H o me D epo t br e a c he d t h e “go o d

6 (.

. . c o n t in ued )

ex c ulp a t e it self fr o m t h e o b liga t io n

. ... A p a r t y c a n n o t p r o m is e t o a c t in a

c er t a in m a n n er i n on e p o r t io n o f a c o n t r a c t a n d t h en ex c u lp a t e it s elf fr o m
lia b ilit y fo r b r ea c h o f t h a t v er y p r o m is e i n a n ot h er p a r t o f t h e c o n t r a c t

. ” );

a t 11

– 1 2 (“ t h e alleged E x c ulp a t o r y C la us e is c o n t r a d i c t ed b y t h e p r o m is e

t o p r o v id e t h e d r a in c lea n er in go o d w or kin g c o n d it io n [. ] C alv in c lea r ly

h a d t h e e x p e c t a t io n t h a t t h e d r ain c lea n er w o uld b e in go od w o r kin g

c on d it i o n a s i m p lied b y la w

. A j ur y c o uld r ea s o n a b l y c o n c lud e t h at

C a lv in ’ s [s ic ] d id n o t fo r es ee t o b e i n j ur ed b ec a us e o f t h e” fla w s i n t h e
d ev ic e).N o

. 19- 2082 19

w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n ” cl au se w h e n i t pr o v i d ed a d ef ect i v e
mach i n e.

Al t h o u gh H o m e D epo t n o w su ppl i es so me ci t at i o n s t o t h e

r eco r d i n su ppo r t o f i t s cl ai m o n appeal t h at t h e mach i n e w as

i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n , 7 t h a t ev i d en ce i s d i spu t ed

. Fo r t h e

pu r po ses o f su

mmar y j u d gmen t

, t h er e f o r e, w e mu st assu me

t h a t t h e mach i n e h ad t h e t h r ee f l aw s asser t ed b y Ho r n e,

r egar d l ess o f h o w r ecen t l y t h e d ev i ce h ad b een man u f act u r ed

an d d el i v

er ed t o t h e st o r e. B ecau s e H o r n e d i d n o t w ai v e h i s
cl ai m t h at H o me D e p o t mat er i al l y b r each ed t h e “go o d

w o r ki ng c o n d i t i o n ” cl au s e o f t h e co n t r act b y pr o v i d i n g a
d ef ect i v e mach i n e, w e t u r n t o t h e mer i t s o f t h at cl ai m.

B.

W e b egi n b y ex ami n i n g Il l i n o i s l aw t o d ef i ne t h e

par amet er s o f t h e d i spu t e b ecau se, i n ad d i t i o n t o d i sagr eei n g
ab o u t t h e f act s, t h e par t i es d i sagr ee ab o u t t h e l aw t h at go v er n s

ex cu l p at o r y c l au ses. H o me D epo t b egi n s wi t h t h e pr o po si t i o n

7 H o m e Dep o t go es s o fa r a s t o c la im o n a p p ea l t h a t t h e ev id en c e t h a t t h e

m ac h in e w a s in go o d w o r kin g c o n d it io n is un d is p ut ed

. T h is is in c o r r ec t

. H o r n e, a s w e n o t ed

, p r o v id ed t es t im o n y t o t h e c o n t r a r y , t es t im on y t h at

w a s c o r r o b o r a t ed b y t w o ey e w it n es ses

. H e a ls o p r ov id ed ev id en c e fr o m

H o m e Dep o t ’ s o w n r ec o r d s t h a t t h e d ev ic e w a s b r o ken on ly d a y s a ft er it

w a s d eliv er ed t o t h e s t o r e. H o m e Dep ot ’ s a r g um en t on t h is p o in t is

es p ec ia lly un w a r r an t e d b e c a us e H o m e Dep o t t o o k t h e p o s it io n in t h e
d i st r ic t c o ur t t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t p r o m i s e d a d r a in r o d d er in “ a s is ”

c on d it i o n , ign o r in g t h e “ go o d w o r k in g c on d it io n ” c la us e a n d p r es en t i n g

n o ev id en c e in t h e d is t r ic t c o ur t r ega r d in g t h e c on d it io n o f t h e m a c h in e.

H o m e Dep o t in s t ea d ar gued b elo w t h a t t h er e w as n o b r ea c h b ec a us e i t

p r o m is ed a d r ain c lea n er a n d it p r o v id ed a d r a in c lea n er , w it h o u t r ega r d

t o t h e c o n d it io n o f t h e d ev ic e.20 N o

. 1 9- 2082

t h a t H o r ne ’s r el i an ce o n c o n t r act l aw t o d ef en d agai n st

su mmar y j u d gmen t i s m i spl aced b ecau se H o r n e d i d n o t b r i n g

a cl ai m f o r b r each o f co n t r act

. B u t H o me D epo t f o u n d ed i t s

ar gu men t f o r su

mmar y j u d gmen t en t i r el y o n a co n t r act

- b ased

af f i r mat i v e d ef en s e , r el y i n g o n Il l i n o i s co n t r a ct l aw

. H o r n e i s

en t i t l ed t o d ef en d agai n st t h e mo t i o n f o r summar y j u d gmen t

b y po i n t i n g o u t an

y l egal er r o r s an d f a ct u a l d e f ic i en ci es i n

H o me D epo t ’s co n t r act

- b ased d ef en s e, an d o bv i o u sl y , h e may

r el y o n co n t r act l aw t o d o so

. M o r eo v er , as t h e d i st r i ct co u r t

po i n t ed o u t

, H o r n e’s b r each o f w ar r an t y cl ai m s o u n d s i n

co n t r a ct

, u

n d er c u t t i n g t h e v er y pr emi se o f H o me Depo t ’s

pr o po si t i o n

, at l e a s t a s t o t h at cl ai m. Se e C o llins C o. , Lt d. v

. C ar boli n e C o

. , 5 32 N

. E

. 2d 834, 838 ( Il l

. 1988) ( “an ex pr ess

w ar r an t y i s i mpo sed by t h e par t i e s t o a co n t r act a n d

... an

act i o n fo r br each o f ex pr ess w ar r an t y i s a n a ct i o n e x

c o nt r ac tu

. ”)

.

H o r n e i s a ls o co r r ect t h at

, u n d er Il l i n o i s l aw

, a par t y i n

mat er i al br each may n o t en f o r ce a p r o v i si o n o f a co n t r act t h at

i s f av o r ab l e t o h i m, su ch as an ex c u l pat o r y cl a u se. Dube y v

. P ublic St o r age

, I nc

. , 918 N

. E

. 2d 265, 284 ( Il l

. App. 2009) (“a

par t y w h o mat er i al l y b r each es a co n t r a ct canno t t ak e
ad v an t age o f t h e t er ms o f t h e co n t r act w h i c h b en e f i t h i m”) ;
Golds t e in v

. Lus t ig

, 507 N. E

. 2d 164, 168 ( Il l

. App. 1987) (same) ;

B uilde r ’s C onc r

e t e C o

. of Mor t on v

. Fr

e d F aube l & Sons

, I nc

. , 373

N

. E

. 2d 863, 870 ( Il l

. App. 1978) ( same)

. C f

. LB St e e l, LLC v

. C a r l o St e e l C or

p. , 122 N

. E

. 3d 274, 290 ( Il l

. App. 2018) ( pa r t y

w h o co mmi t s f i r s t mat er i a l b r each may n o t r eco v er d amages
f o r o t h er par t y ’s su

b sequ en t b r each

, ci t i n g Dube y ). An d a par t y
seek i n g t o en f o r ce a f av o r ab l e pr o v i si o n h as t h e b u r d en o f

pr o v i n g su

b st an t i al co mpl i an ce w i t h t h e co n t r act

. J ame s v

.N o

. 19- 2082 21

Life line Mobile Me dic s , 792 N

. E

. 2d 461, 4 6 4 ( Il l

. App. 2003) (“A

par t y seek i n g t o en f o r ce a c o n t r act h as t h e b u r d en o f pr o v i n g
h e h as su

b st an t i al l y co mpl i ed w i t h al l mat er i al t er ms o f t h e

agr eemen t

. ”) ; G olds t e in

, 507 N. E

. 2 d at 167–68 ( same)

. T h u s , H o me D epo t may n o t r el y o n i t s E xc u l p at o r y Pr o v i si o n i f i t

can n o t u l t i mat el y pr o v e t h at i t su b st an t i al l y co mpl i ed w i t h i t s

o b l i gat i o n s u

n d er t h e co n t r act

. An d summar y j u d gmen t i s n o t

appr o p r i at e i f t h er e ar e f act u al d i s pu t es r egar d i n g H o me

D epo t ’s su

b st an t i al co mpl i an ce w i t h t h e r en t al agr eemen t

. T o
b e s u r e, ex cu l pa t o r y c l au ses gen er al l y c o me i n t o pl ay o n ce

t h er e h as b een a b r each

. B u t as w e ex pl ai n b el o w , u n d er Il l i n o i s
l aw , an ex c u l pat o r y cl au se may n o t r el i ev e a par t y o f mat er i al

b r each o f an ex pr ess pr o mi s e at t h e co r e o f t h e co n t r act b ecau se

t h a t w o u l d r en d er t h e co n t r act i l l u so r y

.

Pu b l i c p o l i cy i n Il l i n o i s “st r o n gl y fav o r s f r eed o m t o

co n t r a ct

, ” an d t h er ef o r e ex cu l pat o r y c l a u s es ar e gen er al l y

en f o r ced “‘u

n l ess ( 1) i t w o u l d b e agai n st a set t l ed pu b l i c p o l i cy

o f t h e S t at e t o d o so , o r ( 2) t h er e i s so met h i n g i n t h e so ci al

r el at i o n sh i p o f t h e par t i es mi l i t at i n g agai n s t u ph o l d i n g t h e

agr eemen t

. ’“ Har r is v

. Wa l k e r , 519 N

. E. 2d 917, 919 ( Il l

. 1988)
( qu o t i n g J ac ks on v

. Fir s t Nat ’l Bank

, 114 N

. E

. 2d 721, 725 ( Il l

. 1953) )

. Se e als o R e ube n H. Donne lle y C or p. v

. Kr as ny Supply C o. , 592 N

. E

. 2d 8, 1 1 (Il l

. App. 1 991) ( “pr i v at e p ar t i es t o a co n t r act

may al l o cat e t h e r i sk o f n egl i gen ce a s t h ey see f i t an d

ex cu l p at o r y c l a u ses ar e n o t v i o l at i v e o f pu b l i c po l i c y as a

mat t er o f l aw ”)

. At t h e same t i me, ex c u l pat o r y cl au ses ar e n o t

f av o r ed i n Il l i n o i s , a n d a r e t o b e st r i ct l y co n s t r u ed agai n st t h e

par t y t h ey b en ef i t

, especi al l y w h en t ha t par t y w a s al so t h e
d r af t er , a s i s t h e case h er e. Sc ot t & Fe t ze r C o. v

. Mont g ome r y

Wa r d & C o. , 4 93 N

. E

. 2 d 1022, 1029 ( Il l

. 1986)

. “S u c h c l au s es22 N o

. 1 9- 2082

mu s t spel l o u t t h e i n t en t i o n o f t h e par t i es w i t h gr eat

par t i cu l ar i t y an d w i l l n o t b e co n st r u ed t o d ef eat a cl ai m w h i ch

i s n o t ex p l i ci t l y c o v er ed b y t h ei r t er ms. ” Sc ot t & Fe t ze r , 493

N

. E

. 2d at 1029–30. M o r eo v er , i n Il l i n o i s, t h e co n st r u c t i o n , i n t er pr et at i o n

, o r l egal ef f ect o f a co n t r act i s a mat t er t o b e
d et er m i n ed b y t h e co u r t as a q u est i o n o f la w

. A v e r y v

. St at e

Far m Mut

. I ns

. C o. , 835 N

. E

. 2d 801, 8 21 ( Il l

. 2005)

. T h e “st ar t i n g

p o i nt o f an

y co n t r act an al y si s i s t h e l a n gu age o f t h e co n t r ac t

i t sel f

. ” I d

. W

e mu st co n st r u e a c o nt r a c t “as a w h o l e, v i ew i n g

par t i cu l ar t er m s o r pr o v i si o n s i n t h e co n t ext o f t h e en t i r e

agr eemen t

. ” Mat t he ws v

. C hic ago T r ans it A ut h.

, 51 N

. E

. 3d 753,

776 ( Il l

. 2 016)

.

1.

In mo v i n g f o r su

mmar y j u d gmen t

, Ho m e D epo t c o n t en d ed

t h a t t h e E x cu l p at o r y C l au se “cl ear l y a n d u n amb i gu o u sl y

r el eases P l ai n t i f f ’s cl ai ms agai n st H o me D epo t

. ” Th e co m p an y

ar gu ed t h at t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se w as v al i d an d en f o r ceab l e
b ecau se i t d i d n o t v i o l at e pu b l i c po l i c y; t h er e w as n o speci al

r el at i o n sh i p b et w een t h e par t i es an d n o su b st an t i al d i spar i t y i n

t h e b ar gai n i n g po si t i o n s; an d t h e t y pe o f i n ju r y t h e pl ai n t i f f

su f fer ed w as r easo n ab l y f o r eseeab l e an d co n t empl at ed b y t h e

par t i es. W

e w i l l a d d r ess t h ese co n t en t i o n s i n a mo men t

, bu t w e
f i r st n o t e t h at H o me D epo t ’s mo t i o n an d i t s ar gu men t f a i l ed t o
ad d r ess o r a c k

n o w l ed ge o t h er si gn i f i can t l egal h u r d l es t h a t a
d ef en d an t mu st o v er co me i n seek i n g t h e en f o r cemen t o f an

ex cu l p at o r y cl au se.

Fo r ex ampl e, as w e h av e j u st n o t e d

, a par t y i n mat er i al

b r each may n o t t ak e ad v an t ag e o f pr o v i s i o n s i n t h e co n t r act

t h a t ar e f av o r ab l e t o i t

. Dube y , 918 N

. E

. 2d a t 284. In m o v i n g f o rN o

. 19- 2082 23

su mmar y j u d g m e n t

, H o me Depo t mad e n o at t empt t o
d emo n s t r at e t h a t i t w as n o t i n br each

. J ame s , 792 N

. E. 2d at 464.

Wh en H o r n e r ai sed t h i s l egal pr i n ci p l e ( an d acco m pan y i n g
f act u al d i spu t es) i n h i s r espo n s e t o H o me D epo t ’s mo t i o n f o r

su mmar y j u d gmen t

, t h e co mpan y r espo n d ed t h a t i t w as n o t i n
b r each b ecau se i t pr o mi sed n o t h i n g mo r e t h a n a d r ai n c l ean er

i n “as i s” co n d i t i o n an d i t h ad pr o v i d ed a d r ai n c l ean er

. H o me

D epo t al so d en i ed t h at i t br each ed b y s u p pl y i n g t h e “w r o n g”

d r ai n cl ean er

. T h o se r espo n ses i gn o r ed en t i r el y H o r n e’s

r ef er en ces t o t h e ex pr ess pr o mi se i n t h e fi r st p ar agr aph o f t h e

co n t r a ct t o pr o v i d e a mach i n e “i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. ”

2.

T h at l ead s t o t h e seco n d d ef i ci en cy i n H o me Depo t ’s

ar gu men t f o r su

mmar y j u d gmen t

, n a m e l y , t h at t h e r en t al

agr eemen t co n t ai n ed amb i gu o u s an d ev en co n t r ad i ct o r y

pr o v i si o n s o n t he pr o mi sed c o n d i t i o n o f t h e d ev i ce. T h e

co n t r a ct f i r st c o n f u si n gl y pr o mi sed t o pr o v i d e t h e r ent ed

e q u i pmen t “‘as i s ’ an d i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. ” R

. 1 5 1

- 3

, ¶ 1

. T he ph r ase “as i s” u su al l y si gn i f i es t h at “t h e b u y er t a k e s

t h e en t i r e r i sk as t o t h e qu al i t y o f t h e go o d s i nv o l v ed an d h e

mu s t t r u st t o h i s o w n i n spect i o n

. Impl i ed an d ex pr ess

w ar r an t i es ar e ex cl u d ed i n sal es o f go o d s ‘as i s. ’” B l ack ’s Law

D i ct i o n ar y

, Fi ft h E d i t i o n ( 1979)

. Th er e i s co n si d er a b l e
amb i gu i t y i n p r o mi si n g t o pr o v i d e go o d s b o t h “as i s” an d “ i n

go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. ” In a l at e r p ar agr aph o f t h e r en t al

agr eemen t

, t h e co mpan y d eepen ed t h e amb i gu i t y as i t

at t empt ed t o d i scl ai m al l w ar r an t i es, i n c l u d i n g, appar en t l y , t h e

ex pr ess pr o mi se i t m ad e i n t h e f i r st par agr aph :24 N o

. 1 9- 2082

C u st o m e r ack

n o w l ed ge( s) accept an ce o f t h e

E qu i pme nt “as i s” an d o n a “w h er e i s” b asi s,

w i t h “al l f a u l t s” a n d w i t h o u t an y r eco u r se

w h at so ev er agai n st T h e H o me Depo t

.

R

. 151- 3, ¶ 8

. Th e pr o v i si o n o f go o d s w i t h “al l fau l t s” m ean s

t h a t t h e bu

y er a c c ept s, “i n t h e a b sen ce o f f r a u d o n t h e p ar t o f

t h e v en d o r

, al l su ch f au l t s a n d d ef ect s as ar e n o t i nc o n s i st en t

w i t h t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e go o d s as t h e go o d s d escr i b ed

. ” Bl ack ’s

L aw D i c t i o n a r y

, Fi f t h E d i t i o n ( 1979)

. 8 In r eso l v i n g t h e
amb i gu i t y o f t he s e p r o v i si o n s agai n st t h e d r a f t er , an d i n

co n st r u i n g t h i s l a n gu age i n t h e co n t ex t o f t h e en t i r e agr eemen t

,

w e co n cl u d e t h at t h e i ni t i a l ex pr ess pr o mi se t o p r o v i d e t h e
d r ai n r o d d er i n “go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n ” t ak e s p r eced en ce

o v er t h e l i m i t i n g ph r ases “as i s” an d “w i t h al l f au l t s

. ” Sc ot t &

Fe t ze r , 493 N

. E

. 2d at 1 0 2 9

– 3 0

. H o me D epo t t h u s may n o t

d i scl a i m l i a b i l i t y f o r i n

j u r i es t h at o c cu r as a r esu l t o f a b r each o f

t h a t ex pr ess pr o mi se.

3.

T h i s r ead i n g al so r eso l v es o t h er o b j ect i o n s t h at H o r n e

r ai sed t o H o me D epo t ’s summar y ju d gmen t mo t i o n

. C i t i n g t o
Shor r P a p e r P r

o d uc t s , I nc

. v

. Aur

o r a E le vat o r

, I nc

. , 555 N

. E

. 2d 735
( Il l

. App. 1 990)

, an d J e we le r s Mut ual I ns

. C o

. v

. Fir s t ar B a nk

I llinois

, 820 N

. E

. 2d 4 11 ( Il l

. 2 004)

, H o r n e co n t en d ed t h at H o me

D epo t co u l d n o t a ssu

me a speci f i c d u t y ( t o pr o v i d e a d ev i ce i n

go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n ) i n o n e par t o f a co n t r act

, an d t h en

8 T h e p h r a s e “ w h er e is ” gen er a l ly m ea n s t h a t t h e b uy er (o r r en t er ) a c c ep t s

t h e go od s w h er e t h ey a r e a n d w ill t r a n s p or t t h em a s n eed ed

. T h is t er m is

ir r elev a n t t o t h e p a r t ies ’ d is p ut e.N o

. 19- 2082 25

al s o e x cu l p at e i t sel f fr o m l i ab i l i t y f o r br each o f t h a t c o r e

pr o mi se i n an o t h er par t o f t h e co n t r act ( t h e E x c u l pat o r y

C l au se)

. In J e we le r s M u t ual

, t h e p l ai n t i f f s w er e i n su r er s o f

i n d i v i d u al s a n d b u si n esses t h a t r en t ed saf et y d epo si t b o x es at

a b an k

. T h e r en t al a gr eemen t c o n t ai n ed a b r o ad ex c u l pat o r y
cl au se, d en

y i n g l i ab i l i t y f o r l o s s o f o r i n j u r y t o t h e co n t en t s o f

t h e b o x u

n l ess t h e l essee en t er ed i n t o a separ a t e agr eemen t

w i t h t h e ban k t o t h at ef f ect

. B u t t h e c o n t r act al so p r o v i d ed t h at

t h e “l i ab i l i t y o f sai d b an k i s l i mi t ed t o t h e ex er ci s e o f o r d i n ar y

car e t o pr ev

en t t he o p e n i n g o f sai d saf e b y an y per so n n o t

a u t h o r i zed [

. ] ” T h e b a n k c o n ced ed t h a t i t b r each ed t h a t

pr o v i si o n o f t h e co n t r act

, w h i ch l ed t o t h e l o ss o f j ew el r y an d

l o o se d i amo n d s st o r ed i n t h e bo x es. T h e ban k n ev er t h el ess

so u gh t t o en f o r ce t h e ex cu l pat o r y pr o v i si o n t o l i mi t i t s l i a b i l i t y

. T h e Il l i no i s S u pr eme C o u r t f r amed t h e i ssu e as “w h et h er
d ef en d an t can ex c u l pat e i t sel f f r o m al l l i ab i l i t y f o r b r each o f an

ex pr ess o b l i gat i o n a s s u med i n t h e co n t r act

. ” 820 N. E

. 2d at

414–15.

T h e I l l i n o i s S u pr eme C o u r t f o u n d t h e agr eemen t a mb i gu o u s
b ecau se i t so u gh t t o r el i ev e t h e d ef en d an t o f al l l i a bi l i t y i n o n e

sen t en c e an d assu

med a par t i cu l ar l i ab i l i t y i n a n o t h er sen t en ce.

B u t t h e C o u r t f o u

n d n o n eed t o r eso l v

e t h e a mb i gu i t y :

Wh at ev er t h e mean i n g o f t h e ex cu l pat o r y cl au se,

i t cl ear l y c a n

n o t b e appl i ed t o a si t u at i o n i n

w h i ch d ef en d an t i s al l eged t o h av e b r each ed i t s
d u t y t o e xe r ci se o r d i n ar y car e t o pr ev en t

u n au t h o r i zed per so n s f r o m o p en i n g t h e b o x.

T h i s i s a s peci f i c d u t y t h at d ef en d an t assu med i n

t h e co n t r act

, an d i t f o r m ed t h e h ear t o f t h e

par t i es' agr eemen t

. A p ar t y can n o t p r o mi se t o26 N o

. 1 9- 2082

act i n a cer t ai n m a n

n er i n o n e p o r t i o n o f a

co n t r act an d t h en ex cu l p at e i t sel f f r o m l i ab i l i t y
f o r b r each o f t ha t v e r y pr o mi se i n an o t h er par t

o f t h e co n t r act

.
J e we le r ’s Mut ual

, 820 N

. E

. 2d at 415. T h at i s b ecau se “f o cu s i n g

so l el y o n ex cu l pat o r y pr o v i si o n o f co n t r act t o t h e ex cl u s i o n o f

i t s speci fi cal l y ar t i cu l at ed o b l i gat i o n s

... w o u l d r en d er [ a]

d ef en d an t ' s c o n t r act u al d u t i es i l l u s o r y

. ” J e we le r ’s Mut ua l

, 820

N

. E

. 2d at 415–16 (ci t i n g Shor r P ape r , 555 N

. E

. 2d at 738)

. 9 H er e,

t h e h ear t o f t h e agr eemen t an d t h e pr i mar y o b l i gat i o n o f H o me

D epo t u n d er t h e co n t r act w as t o pr o v i d e t h e r en t ed equ i pmen t

i n go o d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n

. If H o me D ep o t ’s b r each o f t h at

9 Sh o rr P a p er s i m i l a r l y h eld t h a t t h e d r a ft er of a c o n t r a c t c o uld n o t

ex c ulp a t e it s elf fr o m lia b ilit y fo r b r ea c h in g sp ec ific ob liga t io n s d elin ea t ed

in a n elev a t o r m a in t en a n c e c o n t r a c t

. 5 5 5 N

. E

. 2 d a t 7 3 7– 3 8. T h e c o ur t fir s t

p r es um ed t h a t a ll c o n t r a c t “p r o v is io n s w er e in t en d ed fo r a p u r p os e, an d

c on flic t in g p r o v is io n s w ill b e r ec o n c iled if p o s s i b le s o a s t o giv e effec t t o

a ll o f t h e c o n t r a c t ' s p r o v is io n s

. ” Id

. I n o r d er t o giv e m ea n in g t o b o t h t h e

ex c ulp a t o r y l a n gua ge a n d t h e s p ec ific o b liga t io n s , t h e c o ur t fo un d t h a t t h e

ex c ulp a t o r y c la us e r eliev ed t h e d efen d a n t o n ly fr o m gen er a l r e s po n s ib i l it y
fo r s t r u c t ur a l d a m a ge t o t h e elev at o r

. B ut t h e c o n t r a c t w o uld n o t p r ot ec t

t h e d efen d a n t “ fr o m lia b ilit y fo r a n y d am a ges d ir ec t ly c a us ed b y it s fa i l ur e

t o p er fo r m it s s p ec ified s er v ic e o b liga t io n s s uffic ien t l y

. ” 5 55 N

. E

. 2d a t 73 8

. T h is r ea d in g a l s o p r ev en t ed t h e d efen d a n t ’ s d ut ies “fr o m b ec o m i n g
illus or y a n d m ea n in gles s , a r es ult w h i c h w o uld b e o c c a s i on ed if [t h e
d efen d a n t ] w er e n o t lia b le fo r fa ilin g t o p er fo r m i t s o b liga t i o n s

s uffic ien t ly

. ” Id

. M o r eo v er , t h e c o ur t ’ s in t er p r et at io n h o n o r ed t h e r ule t o

c on s t r ue a m b iguo us o r un c er t a in c o n t r ac t s a ga in s t t h e d r aft er , a

c on s id er a t io n t h e c o ur t fo un d “p a r t ic u l ar l y i m p o r t a n t w h en a p a r t y s eeks

t o t a ke a d v a n t a ge o f a p ur p o r t ed ex c ep t i o n t o a n a gr eem en t

. ” Id

. T h us , a
d efen d a n t m a y n o t ex c ulp a t e it s elf fr o m lia b i lit y fo r in j ur y r es ult in g fr o m

t h e b r ea c h o f a c o r e p r o m is e in t h e c o n t r a c t

.N o

. 19- 2082 27

co r e pr o v i si o n i s t h e cau se o f t h e i n j u r y , t h en u n d er J e we le r ’s

Mut ual

, H o me D epo t may n o t ex cu l pat e i t s el f f r o m l i ab i l i t y f o r

t h a t b r each

.

T h e d i s t r i c t co u r t f o u

n d t h at t h e pr i n ci pl e a r t i c u l at ed i n J e we le r ’s Mut ual appl i ed o n l y t o co n t r a ct cl a i ms a n d w a s t h u s

i r r el ev ant t o Ho r n e’s n egl i gen ce cl ai m, r el y i n g o n Ge ime r v

. B ank of Ame r ic a, N. A.

, 784 F

. S u p p. 2 d 926, 9 3 4 ( N

. D

. Il l

. 2 0 1 1 )

. B u t Ge ime r su ppl i es n o su ppo r t f o r t h i s pr o po si t i o n

. T h e pl ai n t i ff t h er e ci t ed J e we le r ’s Mut ual i n s u p po r t o f an ar gu men t

t h a t n egl i gen t f ai l u r e t o t ak e appr o pr i at e secu r i t y pr ecau t i o n s agai n s t i d en t i t y t h ef t w a s a r eco gn i zed b asi s f o r b an k l i a b i l i t y ,

o v er an d ab o v e an

y co n t r act u al l i ab i l i t y wh i ch may ex i s t

. T h e pl a i n t i f f w as at t empt i n g t o si d est ep Il l i n o i s’ Moor man r u l e,
h o l d i n g t h at pl ai n t i f f s may n o t r eco v er f o r so l el y eco n o m i c l o ss

u n d er t o r t t h eo r i es o f n egl i gen ce an d t h e l i k e. T h e Ge ime r co u r t

r ej ect ed t h e appl i cab i l i t y o f J e we l e r ’s M ut ual

, n o t i n g t h at t h e
l o w er c o u r t s i n J e w e le r ’s Mut ual h ad d i smi ssed t h e pl ai n t i f f ’s

n egl i gen c e cl ai m u

n d er t h e M oor man d o ct r i n e, an d t h e Il l i n o i s
S u pr eme C o u r t h a d n o t d i st u r b ed t h at d eci si o n

. B ecau se H o r n e
seek s d amages f o r per so n al i n j u r y , t h e M oor man d o ct r i n e i s

i n appl i cab l e. An d as w e ex pl ai n ed ab o v e, i t i s t h e d ef en d a n t s

w h o seek t o en f o r ce t h e co n t r act h er e an d so H o r n e may t u r n

t o co n t r act l aw t o d emo n st r at e w h y t h e E x cu l p at o r y C l a u se

may n o t be en f o r ced

.

T h e d i st r i ct c o u r t si mi l ar l y r ej ect ed t h e appl i cab i l i t y o f t h e J e we le r ’s Mut ual pr i n ci pl e t o H o r n e’s b r each o f w ar r an t y cl ai m ( w h i c h s o u

n d s i n co n t r act ) b ecau se t h e r en t al a gr eemen t d i d

n o t l eav e H o rne w i t h o u t an y r emed y i n t h e ev en t o f H o me

D epo t ’s b r each

. S peci f i cal l y , t h e co n t r act p r o v i d ed :28 N o

. 1 9- 2082

S h o u l d T h e Ho m e D epo t f ai l t o meet an y o f i t s

o b l i gat i o n s u

n d er t h i s Agr eemen t

, C u st o mer ’s

o n l y r emed y i s r epai r o r r epl acemen t o f d ef i ci en t

E qu i pmen t o r t o r ecei v e, at T h e H o me D epo t ’s

o pt i o n , a r en t al ch ar ge ad

j u s t men t

.

R

. 151- 3, ¶ 3. In t h i s case, t h at w o u l d mean t h at H o r n e’s

d amages f o r l o ss o f h i s f i n ger w o u l d b e l i mi t ed t o $63. 80, t h e

r en t al c h ar ge. In t h e d i st r i c t co u r t

, H o me D epo t d i d n o t

r e s p o n d t o H o r n e’s ar gu men t u n d er J e we le r ’s Mut ual

, d i d n o t

ci t e o r r el y o n par agr aph 3 o f t h e r en t al agr eemen t

, a n d d i d n o t

ar gu e t ha t H o r n e’s d amages w er e l i mi t ed t o r ef u n d o f t h e

r en t al amo u

n t

. In l i gh t o f t h at w ai v er , an d gi v en t h at H o me

D epo t b o r e t h e b u r d en o f d emo n st r at i n g i t s en t i t l emen t t o

su mmar y j u d gmen t

, t h at sh o u l d h av e been t h e en d o f t h e

mat t er

. 1 0 In d eed

, H o me D epo t mak es n o at t empt o n appeal t o

1 0 In fin d i n g t h a t Jewel er’ s M utua l w a s d i s t in guis h a b le, t h e d is t r ic t c our t

a ls o c i t ed W

i l l m o tt v

. Fed era l Street Ad vi so rs, Inc.

, 2 0 0 6 W L 3 74 3 71 6 (N

. D. Ill.

Dec

. 1 9

, 2 0 0 6 ), fo r t h e p r o p o sit io n t h a t t h e E x c ulp a t o r y C la us e w a s

en fo r c ea b le b ec a us e it d id n o t en t i r ely ex c ulp a t e H om e Dep o t

. B ut t h at

a n a l y sis r ea d s t o o m uc h in t o W i l l m o tt

, w h i c h en fo r c e d a n ex c ulp a t o r y

c l aus e w h er e t h e p la in t iff w as s eekin g co nseq uenti a l d am a g es fo r a b r ea c h

,

a t y p e o f d a m a g es sp ec ific a l ly ex c lud ed b y t h e c o n t r a c t a t is sue. T h e c our t

h e l d t h at t h e d efen d a n t c o uld s t ill b e h eld lia b le fo r d ir ec t d a m ages

. W i l l m o tt

, 20 0 6 W L 3 7 4 3 7 1 6

, *8 (“ p ub lic p o lic y d o es n o t p r o h ib it a n

ex c ulp a t o r y c l aus e t h at lim it s r em ed ies t o a p la in t iff b ut d o es n o t ab s olv e

t h e o t h er p a r t y o f l ia b ilit y

. T h e ex c ulp a t o r y c la us e s i n t h e L o a n

A gr eem en t s d o n ot a b s o lv e B O A o f lia b ilit y o r in a n y w a y lim it d ir ec t

d am a g es fr o m a b r ea c h b y B O A

. In s t ea d

, t h ey lim it t h e ex t en t o f

W illm o t t ' s r em ed ies

. T h is im p o r t a n t d i f f e r en c e d i st i n guis h es Jewel ers

M utua l Ins. C o

. v

. Fi rsta r B a nk Il l i n o i s , t h e c a s e up o n w h i c h W illm o t t (c on t in ued

. . . )N o

. 19- 2082 29

d ef en d t h e d i st r i ct co u r t ’s s ua s pont e r el i an ce o n Ge ime r o r

W illmot t

.

In s t ead

, H o me D epo t n o w ci t es par agr aph 3 p r i m ar i l y as a

mean s f o r r eso l v i n g co n t r ad i ct o r y t er ms i n t h e co n t r act

. H o me

D epo t co n t en d s t h at par agr aph 3 i s a mo r e speci f i c pr o v i s i o n

r egar d i ng r emed i es t h at l i mi t s t h e r each o f t h e mo r e gen er al

E x cu l p at o r y C l a u se, an d d o es n o t r el i ev e H o me D epo t o f al l

l i ab i l i t y

. H o me Depo t a r g u e s t h at

, i f t h e m a ch i n e w as n o t i n

go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n , t h en H o r n e w as en t i t l ed t o i t s r epai r

o r r epl acemen t ( o r

, p r esu mab l y

, as t h e agr eemen t speci f i es, t h e

r et u r n o r a d

j u st men t o f h i s $63. 80 r en t al f ee)

. Th i s n ew

ar gu men t at t empt i n g t o r eco n ci l e t h e c o n f l i ct i n g pr o v i s i o n s o f

t h e r en t al agr eemen t co mes t o o l at e, an d d o es no t a dd r ess
Il l i n o i s l aw c o n st r u i n g ex cu l pat o r y cl au s es st r i ct l y agai n st t h e
d r af t er an d agai n s t t h e par t y seek i n g t o en f o r ce t h em, wh i ch i n
b o t h i n st a n ces i s H o me D epo t

. As a seco n d ar y mat t er , H o me

D epo t asser t s w i t h o u t ci t at i o n t o an y case l aw t h a t H o r n e’s

r el i an ce o n J e we le r ’s Mut ual an d Shor r P a p e r i s m i s pl aced

b ecau se par agr a ph 3 o f t h e r en t al c o n t r act su ppl i ed h i m w i t h

a r emed y an d d i d n o t i mmu n i ze H o me D epo t f r o m al l l i a b i l i t y

. Agai n , Ho me D epo t d i d n o t pr esen t t h i s ar gu men t t o t h e
d i st r i ct co u r t

, an d i t f ai l s t o a cco u n t f o r Il l i n o i s l aw co n st r u i n g
amb i gu i t i es st r i c t l y agai n st t h e d r a f t er

. Fi n a l l y , H o me D epo t

f ai l s t o ad d r ess w h

y a pr o v i si o n pu r po r t ed l y l i mi t i n g d amages
f o r br each o f co n t r act w o u l d a p pl y t o a cl ai m f o r n egl i gen ce. At

1 0 (.

. . c o n t in ued )

r elies

. ” ). In t h is c a s e, H o m e Dep o t s ough t in t h e d is t r ic t c o ur t n o t t o lim it

H o r n e’ s r em ed ies b ut t o en t ir ely ab s olv e i t s elf o f all l i a b ilit y fo r it s b r ea c h

o f a n ex p r es s p r o m is e.30 N o

. 1 9- 2082

mo s t

, par agr a p h 3 ' s l i mi t at i o n o f r emed i es mi gh t appl y t o

H o r n e’s cl ai m f o r b r each o f w ar r an t y ( w h i ch s o u n d s i n

c o nt r act )

, b u t n o t t o t h e n egl i gen ce cl ai m. In an y case, H o m e

D epo t m ad e n o ar gu men t i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t r egar d i n g t h i s
cl au se a n d so w ai v ed t h i s a r gu m en t

.

4.

O u r r ead i n g h ar mo n i zi n g t h e c o n f l i ct i n g p r o v i si o n s o f t h e

r en t al agr eement a l s o r eso l v es an o t h er v ar i at i o n o f H o r n e’s

o ppo si t i o n t o H o me D epo t ’s mo t i o n f o r s u m m a r y ju d gmen t

,

n amel y , t h at t h e i n

j u r y h e su st ai n ed w as n o t w it h i n t h o se

co n t em p la t ed b y t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l a u se. Se e R

. 170, at 11–12
( ar gu i ng t ha t H o r n e d i d n o t assu me t h e r i sk o f u si n g a
d ef ect i v e d r ai n cl ean er

, i n l i gh t o f t h e co n t r act ’s pr o mi se t o

pr o v i d e a mach i n e i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n )

. C o u r t s cl o s el y

scr u t i n i ze l i ab i l i t y r el ease cl au ses b ecau s e t h ey a r e d i sf av o r ed

u n d er Il l i n o i s l aw

, a n d t h ey ar e st r i ct l y co n st r u e d a g ai n st t h e

par t y seek i n g t o r el y o n t h em. T h e par t i es n eed n o t

co n t empl at e t h e pr eci se o ccu r r en ce t h at l a t er r esu l t s i n i n j u r y , b u t t h e d ef en d an t m u st pu t t h e pl ai n t i ff o n n o t i ce o f t h e r an ge

o f d an ger s f o r w h i ch t h e pl ai n t i f f a s sumes t h e r i sk o f i n j u r y

. Hawkins v

. C a pit al Fit ne s s , I nc

. , 29 N

. E

. 3d 442, 447 ( Il l

. App.
2015)

. Un d er t h e co n t r act

, H o rne assu med t h e r i s k s o f

o per a t i n g a m ach i n e i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. B u t b ecau se

o f t h e “go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n ” cl a u se, h e d i d n o t assu m e t h e

r i sk s o f o per at i n g a mach i n e w i t h f l aw s i n i t s b asi c f u n ct i o n i n g.

B ecau se H o r n e h as ev i d en c e t h at t h r ee k ey f eat u r es o f t h e
mach i n e w er e d ef ect i v e an d b ecau se a j u r y co u l d i n f er t h at

t h o s e d ef ect s cau sed h i s i n j u r i es, h e i s en t i t l ed t o t ak e h i s case agai ns t H o me D epo t t o t r i al

. An d b ecau se h i s su b st an t i v eN o

. 19- 2082 31

cl ai ms may go f o r w ar d

, so t o o may h i s d er i v at i v e spo l i at i o n
cl ai m.

5.

T h i s i s n o t t o say t h at ex c u l pat o r y cl au ses i n gen er al o r t h e speci f i c o n e at i ssu e h er e ar e t o o t h l ess. H o r n e mu s t pr o v e at

t r i al t h at t h e mach i n e w as n o t i n go o d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n an d

t h a t t he a ll eged f l aw s i n t h e mach i n e w er e t h e cau se o f h i s

i n j u r i es. R ead i n g t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se i n t he co n t ex t o f t h e

w h o l e agr eemen t

, H o me D epo t i s n o t l i ab l e f o r i n j u r i es cau sed

b y a m ach i n e i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. M o st po w er t o o l s

co me w i t h i n

h er en t r i sk s. If t h e d ev i ce w as n o t f l aw ed an d a

cu st o mer n ev er t h el ess l o st a f i n ger , o r su f f er e d so me o t h er

i n j u r y t o h er per so n o r p r o per t y , h er r emed i es w o u l d be l i mi t ed

t o r epai r o r r epl acemen t o f t h e mach i n e, o r ad j u st men t o f t h e

r en t al f ee.

C.

W e pr o mi sed ear l i er t h at w e w o u l d a l so a d d r ess w h et h er

t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se h er e v i o l at es Il l i n o i s p u b l i c po l i cy

. B ecau se w e h av e r ead t h e E x c u l pat o r y C l a u se n a r r o w l y as

r equ i r ed b y Il l i n o i s l aw , w e co nc lu d e t h at i t d o es n o t v i o l at e

pu b l i c po l i cy

. T h at i s , b ecau se t h e C l a u se d o es n o t ex cu l pat e

H o me D epo t f o r br each o f t h e co r e pr o mi se i n t h e co n t r act

, i t

i s en f o r ceab l e. As w e n o t ed ab o v e, ex cu l pat o r y cl au s es ar e

gen er al l y en f o r c ed “u

n l ess ( 1) i t w o u l d be agai n st a s et t l ed

pu b l i c po l i cy o f t h e S t at e t o d o so , o r ( 2) t h er e i s so met h i n g i n

t h e so c i al r el at i o n sh i p o f t h e par t i es mi l i t a t i n g agai n st

u ph o l d i n g t h e agr eemen t

. “ Har r is

, 519 N

. E

. 2 d at 919; Jac k s o n , 114 N. E

. 2d at 725. M o r eo v er , t h e cl au se mu st s p e l l o u t t h e

i n t en t i o n o f t h e par t i es w i t h gr eat par t i cu l ar i t y an d wi l l n o t b e32 N o

. 1 9- 2082

co n st r u e d t o d ef eat a cl ai m w h i ch i s n o t ex pl i c i t l y co v er ed

. Sc ot t & Fe tze r

, 493 N

. E

. 2d a t 1029–30. In mo v i n g fo r summar y j u d gmen t

, H o me D epo t ar gu ed t h at n o t h i n g i n t h e cl a u se

v i o l at ed pu

b l i c po l i cy

, t h at t h er e w as no speci a l r el at i o n s h i p
b et w een t h e par t i es t h at w o u l d pr ecl u d e en f o r c emen t

, an d t h at

t h e t y pe o f i n

j u r y su f fer ed w as r easo na b l y f o r eseeab l e an d

w i t h i n t h e sco pe o f t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se. H o r n e r espo n d ed

i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t t h at t h e pr o v i si o n v i o l at es pu b l i c po l i cy as

ex pr essed i n t h e Un i f o r m C o mmer ci al C o d e ( as ad o pt ed b y
Il l i n o i s a t 810 IL C S 5/2- 314)

, t h at t h er e w a s a su b s t an t i al

d i spar i t y i n t h e b ar gai n i n g po si t i o n s b et w een H o r n e as an

i n d i v i d u al an d Ho me D epo t as a l a r ge c o r po r at i o n , an d t h at

t h e i n j u r y w as n o t r e aso n ab l y co n t empl at ed by t h e par t i es
b ecau se Ho r n e d i d no t assu me t h e r i sk o f o per a t i n g a f au l t y
mach i n e.

W e h a v e al r e a d y ad d r essed H o r n e’s l a st po i n t b y h o l d i n g

t h a t t h e r en t al agr eemen t may n o t ex cu l pat e H o me D epo t f o r

i n j u r i es t h at r esu l t f r o m b r each o f i t s co r e o b l i gat i o n t o pr o v i d e

a mach i n e i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. W e n o w co n c l u d e t h at

,

w i t h t h e l i mi t s w e h av e pl aced o n t h i s C l au se, en f o r cemen t

w o u l d n o t v i o l at e pu bl i c po l i cy i n Il l i n o i s. Il l i n o i s al l o w s

pr i v at e par t i es t o a co n t r ac t t o a l l o cat e t h e r i sk o f n egl i gen ce,

an d ex c u l pat o r y cl au ses ar e n o t

, i n an d o f t h emsel v es, v i o l at i v e

o f pu b l i c po l i cy as a mat t e r o f l a w

. R e ube n H. Donne lle y , 592

N

. E

. 2d at 11. “In t h e ab sen ce o f l egi sl at i o n t o t h e co n t r a r y ,

co u r t s wi l l n o t i n t er f er e w i t h co n t r act s co n t ai n i n g ex c u l pat o r y
cl au ses, u

n l ess t h er e i s a d ef ect i n t h e co nt r act n ego t i at i o n

pr o cess su ch t h at a d i spar i t y i n b ar gai n i n g po w er d en i ed a

par t y a mean i n gf u l c h o i ce. ” I d

. Se e a ls o P r ogr e s s ive Unive r s al I ns

. C o. o f I ll. v

. Libe r t y M ut

. Fir e I ns

. C o. , 828 N

. E

. 2d 1175, 1180 ( Il l

.N o

. 19- 2082 33

2005) ( an a gr eemen t w i l l n o t b e i n v al i d at ed o n pu bl i c p o l i cy

gr o u n d s u n l ess i t i s cl ear l y co n t r ar y t o w h at t h e co n st i t u t i o n , t h e st at u t e s o r t h e d eci s i o n s o f t h e co u r t s h av e d ecl ar ed t o b e

t he p u b l i c po l i c y o r u

n l ess i t i s man i f est l y i n j u r i o u s t o t h e

pu b l i c w el f a r e)

.

H o r n e’s r el i an ce o n S ect i o n 2- 314 o f t h e co m mer c i al co d e as

su ppo r t f o r hi s p u

b l i c po l i cy ar gu men t i s u n a v a i l i n g. T h at

sect i o n pr o v i d es f o r an i mpl i ed w ar r an t y o f mer ch an t ab i l i t y f o r

go o d s “ u nl ess ex cl u d ed o r mo d i f i ed

. ” Se e 8 10 IL C S 5/2- 316
( “E x cl u si o n o r mo d i f i cat i o n o r w ar r an t i es”)

. T h e ex pr ess t er ms

o f t h e s t at u t e t h

u s c o n t empl at e t h at par t i es t o a co n t r a ct may
b ar gai n aw ay r i gh t s t o an i mpl i ed w ar r an t y o f mer ch a n t a b i l i t y

. S o l o n g as t h e par t i es co mpl y w i t h t h e t er ms o f sect i o n 2

- 316 i n

mo d i f y i n g o r ex cl u d i n g a w ar r an t y , su ch a pr o v i si o n w o u l d n o t

v i o l at e Il l i n o i s l aw an d m ay n o t pr o v i d e a b asi s fo r a cl ai m t h at

t h e agr eemen t v i o l a t es pu b l i c p o l i cy

. H o rne fai l ed t o acco u n t

f o r sect i o n 2- 314' s l an gu a g e a l l o w i n g ex cl u si o n s o r

mo d i f i c at i o n s u

n d er sect i o n 2- 316. T h e co mmer ci al co d e d o es

n o t su p po r t H o r n e’s cl ai m t h at t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l au se w as

co n t r a r y t o st at e l aw

.

Fi n al l y , H o r n e’s gen er i c “D av i d an d G o l i at h ” ar gu men t

r egar d i n g t h e r el a t i v e bar gai n i n g po si t i o n o f t h e par t i es i s n o t

t h e so r t o f d i s par i t y t h at v i o l at e s pu b l i c po l i c y u

n d er Il l i n o i s
l aw

. B a r gai n i n g r el at i o n sh i p s t h at po t en t i al l y v i o l at e pu b l i c

po l i cy i n cl u d e t ho se b et w een an empl o y er a n d empl o y ee;
b et w een t h e pu

b l i c an d t h o s e ch a r ge d w i t h a d u t y o f pu b l i c

ser v i ce, su ch a s i n v o l v i n g a co m mo n car r i er , an i n nk eeper , a

pu b l i c w ar eh o u seman o r a pu bl i c u t i l i t y ; an d b et w een par t i es

w h er e t h er e i s s u ch a d i spar i t y o f b ar gai n i n g po w er t h at t h e

agr eemen t d o es n o t r epr es e nt a f r ee ch o i ce o n t h e par t o f t h e34 N o

. 1 9- 2082

pl ai n t i ff

, su ch as a mo n o po l y o r i n v o l v i n g a pl ai n t i f f wi t h o u t a

r easo n ab l e a l t er n a t i v e. Whit e v

. V illage o f Home wood

, 628 N. E

. 2d

616, 6 19–20 ( Il l

. Ap p

. 1 993) ( c i t i n g R est a t emen t ( S eco n d ) o f

T o r t s § 496B

, c o m m e n t s e- j

, at 567–69 ( 1965) )

. H o r n e’s

su ggest i o n t h at h e w as pr essu r ed b y t h e ser i o u s n at u r e o f h i s pl u m b i n g p r o b l em i s i n su f f i ci en t t o d emo n st r at e t h at h e w as
d epr i v ed o f f r ee ch o i ce. H e d o es n o t s u ggest

, f o r ex ampl e, t h at

h e h ad n o o t h er o pt i o n s, t ha t he co u l d n o t h i r e a pl u mb er , o r

r en t a mach i n e el s ew h er e u n d er b et t er t er ms. T he r eco r d

d emo n s t r a t e s t h at

, af t er t h i s i n ci d en t h e d i d i n f act h i r e a pl u m b er t o f i x t h e i ssu e. B ecau se h e h ad o t h er o p t i o n s , an d

b ecau se h e d i d n o t h av e t h e t y pe o f speci al r el at i o n sh i p w i t h

H o me D epo t t h at Il l i n o i s co u r t s h av e r ef er e nced

, h e can n o t

est ab l i sh t h at t h e E x cu l pat o r y C l a u se v i o l at ed pu b l i c po l i cy

.

D

.

H o r n e’s case agai n st E l ect r i c E el i s a d i f f er en t mat t er

en t i r el y , b o t h fact u al l y an d l egal l y

. H o r n e b r o u gh t cl ai ms agai n s t E l ect r i c E el f o r n egl i gen ce, st r i ct pr o d u ct s l i a b i l i t y , an d

b r each o f ex pr ess an d i mpl i ed w ar r an t i es. Al t ho u g h h i s

co mpl ai n t al l eged man

y d i f f er en t a ct s o f n egl i gen ce an d t y pes

o f f au l t s w i t h t h e d ev i ce, i n o ppo si n g E l ect r i c E el ’s mo t i o n f o r

su mmar y j u d gmen t

, H o r n e p o i n t ed t o t h e m a l f u n ct i o n i n g f o o t ped al an d t o ggl e sw i t ch as t h e d ef ect s t h at cau sed h i s i n j u r i es.

Y et h e co n ced ed t h at

, b ecau se t h e d r a i n c l ean er i s n o l o n ger

av ai l ab l e f o r i n spect i o n , “i t i s i mpo ssi

b l e t o d et er mi n e t h e speci f i c mal f u nc t i o n o f t h i s mach i n e a s i t ex i st ed o n Ju l y 21,

2017. ” R

. 166, at 4

. H e asser t ed t h a t E l ect r i c E el w as n egl i gen t

i n f ai l i n g t o p r o per l y i n spect an d t est t h e d ef ect i v e pr o d u ct b u t

f ai l ed t o su ppl y r eco r d su ppo r t f o r t h i s asser t i o n o r ev en

ex pl ai n h o w t h e co mpan y ’s i n spect i o n s an d t est s w er eN o

. 19- 2082 35

i n ad equ at e. H e al s o ar gu ed t h at El ect r i c E el w ar ne d o f t h e
d an ger s pr esen t ed b y k i n k ed cab l es, an d y et o n ce t h e cab l e
b ecame k i n k ed

, t h e man u f act u r er , “seemi n gl y

, l ef t C al v i n w i t h

n o al t er n at i v e i n i t s d esi g n o t h er t h an t o man u al l y pu l l t h e
k i n k ed cab l e f r o m t h e d r ai n a s t h e t o ggl e sw i t ch an d fo o t ped al

b o t h d i d n o t w o r k pr o per l y

. H ad t h er e been an o t h er s af egu a r d

i n pl ace, C al v i n w o u l d n o t h av e h ad t o man u al l y pu l l t h e cab l e
f r o m t h e d r a i n

. ” I d

. H e co n c l u so r i l y cl ai med t h at h e co u l d

t h er ef o r e sh o w t h at h e w as i n j u r ed b y a d r ai n cl ean er t h at w as

u n r easo n ab l y d an ger o u s at t h e t i me i t l ef t t h e co n t r o l o f E l ect r i c

E el

.

In Il l i n o i s, an i n

j u r ed pl ai n t i f f may a l l ege t w o t y pes o f

pr o d u ct s l i ab i l i t y cl a i ms: n egl i gen ce an d st r i ct l i ab i l i t y

. Sale r no

v

. I nnovat ive S u r ve illanc e T e c h.

, I nc

. , 9 32 N. E

. 2d 101, 108 ( Il l

. App. 2010)

. H o r n e h as al l eged b o t h. “[ T ] o r eco v er i n a s t r i ct

pr o d u ct l i a b i l i t y act i o n , a p l a i n t i f f mu st pl ead an d pr o v e t h at

t h e i n j u r y c o mpl ai n ed o f r esu l t ed f r o m a co n d i t i o n o f t h e

pr o d u ct

, t h at t h e co n d i t i o n w as u n r easo n ab l y d an ger o u s, an d

t h a t i t ex i st ed at t h e t i m e t h e p r o d u ct l e f t t h e man u f a ct u r er ' s

co n t r o l

. ” Mikolajc

zyk v

. For d Mot or C o. , 901 N

. E

. 2d 3 29, 3 35 ( Il l

. 2008)

. Fo r h i s ne g l i gen ce cl ai m, H o r n e mu st est a b l i sh t h e

ex i st en ce o f a d u t y o f car e o w ed b y t h e d ef en d an t

, a b r each o f

t h a t d u t y

, an i n j u r y pr o x i mat el y cau sed b y t h at b r each

, an d

d amages r esu l t i n g f r o m t h e b r each

. Sale r no , 932 N

. E

. 2d at 111
( ci t i n g C alle s v

. Sc r i p t o- T okai C or p

. , 864 N

. E

. 2d 249, 263 ( Il l

. 2007) )

. Fo r a b r e a ch o f w ar r an t y cl ai m b ased o n a pr o d u ct

d ef ect

, a pl ai n t i f f mu st pr o v e, amo n g o t he r t h i n gs, t h at t h e

pu r po r t ed d ef ec t ex i st ed w h en t h e pr o d u ct l ef t t h e

m a n u f act u r er ’s co n t r o l

. Alvar e z v

. Ame r ic a n Is uzu Mot or s , 749

N

. E

. 2d 16, 22 ( Il l

. App. 2001)

.36 N o

. 1 9- 2082

C o mmo n t o each o f t h ese cl ai ms i s t h e n eed f o r H o r n e t o
d emo n s t r at e t h at t h er e w as a d ef ect i n t h e d ev i ce at t h e t i m e i t

l ef t E l ect r i c E el ’s co n t r o l

. Al so fo r each o f t h ese c l ai m s, H o r n e

mu s t al so d emo n st r at e t h at t h e a l l eged d ef ect cau sed h i s i n j u r y :

Un d er Il l i n o i s l aw

, i n a pr o d u ct s l i a b i l i t y act i o n ,

w h et h er b ased o n st r i ct l i a b i l i t y o r n egl i gen ce,

t h e pl ai n t i f f mu st d emo n st r at e a ca u sal

r el at i o n sh i p b et w een t h e i n j u r y an d t h e

m a n u f a c t u re r ' s p r o d u c t

. ... T h e c a us a l

r el at i o n sh i p can b e pr o v en b y c i r cumst an t i al

ev i d en ce.

... B u t i n o r d er t o get t o t h e j u r y , t h e pl ai n t i ff mu st d emo n st r at e mo r e t h an a mer e

po ssi b i l i t y t h at t h e pr o d u ct cau sed t h e i n ju r y

. ... R a t h er , t h e pl ai n t i f f mu st c o me f o r w ar d w i t h

ev i d en ce j u s t i f y i n g an i n f er en ce o f pr o b ab i l i t y

.

T hor nt o n v

. M7 A e r

os pac e LP

, 796 F

. 3d 757, 770 ( 7t h C i r

. 2015)

.

As i t d i d i n an al y zi n g t h e cl ai ms agai n st H o me D epo t

, t h e
d i st r i ct co u r t agai n r ej ect ed H o r n e’s u n s u p po r t ed d en i al t h at h e

r ecei v ed t h e d ev i ce l i st ed i n t h e co n t r act

, an d so w e w i l l agai n

assu m e t h at H o r n e r ecei v ed t h e d ev i c e t hat E l ect r i c E el

man u f a ct u r ed an d d el i v er ed t o t h e H o me Depo t st o r e o n M ay 2, 2017. In i t s R u l e 56. 1 s t at emen t o f mat er i al f act s, E l ect r i c E el

su b mi t t ed t est i mo n

y f r o m R i ch ar d Ber r y

, t h e empl o y ee wh o
assemb l ed an d t est ed t h e d ev i c e b e f o r e i t w as sh i pped t o

H o me Depo t

. B er r y t est i f i ed t h at h e per so n al l y assemb l ed an d

t est ed t h e mach i n e t h at w a s l i s t ed i n H o r n e’s r en t al co n t r act

b ef o r e i t w as d el i v er ed t o t h e H o mew o o d H o me D epo t

. Wh en
h e co mpl et ed assem b l y , B er r y t est ed t h e o per at i o n o f t h e
d ev i c e, i n cl u d i n g t h e f o o t ped al a n d t h e f o r w ar d /r ev er se t o ggl eN o

. 19- 2082 37

sw i t c h

. H e t est i f i ed t h at t h e mach i n e h ad n o d ef ect s w h en i t

w as sh i pped o u t

, t h at i t w as i n “pr i st i n e, per f ect co n d i t i o n , ”

an d t h at h e w o u l d no t ha v e s e nt i t o u t i f t h er e h ad b een an y

i ssu es wi t h i t

.

H o r n e r espo n d ed t o t h i s st at emen t w i t h

, “D en y

. Th er e w er e

o t h er d ef ect s p r esen t

. ” H o r n e d i d n o t ci t e an y r eco r d ev i d en ce

t o su ppo r t ei t h er h i s b al d d en i al o r h i s a sser t i o n t h at t h er e w er e
d ef ect s p r esen t w h en E l e ct r i c E el s h i p ped t h e d ev i ce. In f act

, H o r n e d i d n o t su ppl y r ef er en ces t o t h e r eco r d i n s u ppo r t o f an y

o f h i s d en i al s i n h i s r espo n se t o El ect r i c E el ’s st at emen t o f

mat er i al f act s, an d so t h e d i st r i ct co u r t d eemed H o r n e t o h av e
ad mi t t ed E l ect r i c E el ’s v er si o n o f t h e f act s t o t h e ex t en t t h ey

w er e pr o per l y su ppo r t ed

. E l ect r i c E el ’s asser t i o n t h at t h er e

w er e n o d ef ect s i n t h e d ev i ce wh en i t l e f t t h e co mpan y ’s

co n t r o l i s w el l

- su ppo r t ed b y B er r y ’s t est i mo n y

. H o r n e al so
f ai l ed t o pr o d u c e a n

y ev i d en ce t h a t E l ect r i c E el ’s act i o n s ( o r

o mi ssi o n s) w er e t h e cau se o f hi s i n j u r y

. An d h e f ai l ed t o

pr o d u ce an

y ev i d en ce r egar d i n g t h e al l eged d esi gn d ef ect

,

o f fer i n g o n l y specu

l at i o n t h at s o m e u

n speci f i ed saf er d esi gn

w o u l d h av e pr ev en t ed h i s i n j u r i es. Se e Sale r no , 932 N

. E

. 2d at

111 ( man

u f act u r er ' s d u t y t o d esi gn r e a s o nab l y saf e pr o d u c t s
d o es n o t r equ i r e t h e p r o d u ct t o r ef l ect t h e saf est d esi gn

po ssi b l e ; t h e qu est i o n i s n o t wh et h er t h e pr o d u ct co u l d h av e
b een m ad e saf er

, b u t w h et h er i t i s d an ger o u s b ecau s e i t f ai l s t o

per fo r m i n t h e man

n er r easo n ab l y t o b e ex pect ed i n l i gh t o f i t s

n at u r e an d i n t en d ed f u

n ct i o n )

. In an

y case, specu

l at i o n t h at t h e
d ev i c e co u l d h a v e i nco r po r at ed mo r e saf et y f eat u r es i s

i n ad equ at e t o d emo n st r at e t h at E l ect r i c E el ’s act i o n o r i n act i o n

w as t h e c au s e o f h i s i n

j u r i es.38 N o

. 1 9- 2082

Al t h o u gh H o r n e may b e co r r ect t h a t n o t a l l pr o d u ct l i ab i l i t y

c a s e s r equ i r e ex per t t est i mo n y t o pr o v e t h a t a pr o d u ct w as
d ef ect i v e an d t h at t h e d ef ect ex i st ed w h en t h e pr o d u ct l ef t t h e

man u f a ct u r er ’s c o n t r o l

, t h e al t er n at i v e u n d er Il l i n o i s l aw i s t o
d emo n s t r at e t h at

, in t h e abs e nc e of abnor mal us e or r e as onable

s e c ondar y c aus e s t h e pr o d u c t f ai l ed t o per f o r m i n t h e m an n er

r easo n ab l y t o b e ex pe c t e d i n l i gh t o f i t s n at u r e an d i n t en d ed

f u n c t i o n

. DiC o s o lo v

. J ans s e n P har m. , I nc

. , 951 N

. E

. 2d 1238, 1244
( Il l

. App. 2011)

. B u t H o r n e h as f ai l ed t o pr o d u ce a n y ev i d en ce

r egar d i n g t h e ab sen ce o f ab n o r m al u se o r r easo n ab l e s eco n d ar y

cau ses. In a case w h er e t h e r eco r d sh o w s t h at t h e pr o d u ct w as

r en t ed o u t t w en t y

- f o u r t i mes a f t er i t l ef t t h e m an u f a c t u r er ’s

co n t r o l an d b ef o r e t h e pl ai n t i f f w as i n j u r ed

, t h e p l ai n t i f f m u st

pr o d u ce s o me ev i d e nc e f r o m w h i c h a c o u r t co u l d i n f er t h e
ab sen ce o f a b no r m al u se o r r easo n ab l e seco n d ar y c au s es.

H o r n e’s cl ai ms a g a i n st E l ect r i c E el f ai l f o r l ack o f ev i d en ce

t y i n g t h e co mpan

y t o h i s i n

j u r i es.

E

.

Fi n al l y , H o r n e appeal s t h e d i st r i ct co u r t ’s gr an t o f a mo t i o n

t o qu ash a su

b po en a i ssu ed t o R GIS

, L LP. T h i s co u r t r ev i ew s a
d i st r i ct co u r t ' s gr a n t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n t o qu ash a su b p o en a
f o r ab u se o f d i scr et i o n

. Mit c he ll v

. C it y of C hic a go , 862 F

. 3d 583,

586 ( 7t h C i r

. 2017)

. N ear t h e cl o se o f d i sco v er y , H o r n e l ear n ed

t h a t H o me D epo t h ad hi r e d R GIS t o i n v en t o r y t o o l s t h at t h e

st o r e r en t ed o u t

. B el i ev i n g t h at R GIS h ad i n f o r mat i o n t h at

co u l d assi st h i m i n l o cat i n g t h e mi ssi n g mach i n e o r i n pr o v i n g

t h e spo l i at i o n c l ai m , H o r n e at t empt ed t o s u b po en a R GIS

, seek i n g i n v en t o r y r epo r t s an d o t h er d o cumen t s. R GIS n o t i f i ed

H o r n e’s c o u ns e l t h at t h e su b po en a h ad n o t b een sen t t o t h e

co mpan y ’s r egi st er ed agen t

. H o r n e’s co u n sel t h en r ei ssu ed t h eN o

. 19- 2082 39

su b po en a s h o r t l y af t er d i sco v er y cl o sed

, wi t h o u t seek i n g l eav e

o f co u r t

. H o me Depo t mo v ed t o qu ash t h e su bpo en a , an d af t er

a b r i ef h e ar i n g, t h e d i st r i ct co u r t gr an t ed t h e mo t i o n , f i n d i n g

t h a t i t w as n o t t i mel y i ssu ed

. O n appeal

, H o r n e asser t s t h at t h e
d i st r i c t c o u r t ab u sed i t s d i scr et i o n i n qu ash i n g t h e su b p o en a
b ecau se H o me D epo t l ack ed st an d i n g t o o b ject t o a su b p o en a

i ssu ed t o a t h i r d par t y

. Bu t H o r n e fai l ed t o r ai se t h i s o bj ect i o n

i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t

, an d t h e co u r t act ed w el l w i t h i n i t s
d i scr et i o n i n qu ash i n g t h e l at e- fi l ed d i sco v er y r equ est

.

F

.

B ef o r e c l o si n g, w e r espo n d b r i ef l y t o o u r d i ssen t i n g

co l l eagu e. L i k e t h e d i st r i ct co u r t

, t h e d i ssen t co n cl u d es t h at t h e
f i n al sen t en ce o f p a r a g r aph 3 o f t h e r en t al agr eemen t l i mi t s

H o me Depo t ’s l i ab i l i t y f o r fai l i n g t o pr o v i d e a mach i n e i n go o d

w o r k i n g o r d er t o r epai r o r r epl acemen t o f t h e mach i n e, o r an
ad j u s t men t t o t h e r e nt a l ch ar ge o f $68. 30. T h at cl au s e, t h e
d i ssen t co n t en d s, k eeps t h e agr eemen t fr o m b ei n g r en d e r ed

i l l u so r y b ecau se H o me D epo t “i s n o t co mpl et el y o f f t h e h o o k

f o r a b r each

. ” Becau se o f t h e av a i l ab i l i t y o f t h i s l i mi t ed r emed y , t h e d i ssen t f i n d s Je we le r s Mut ual i n appl i cab l e.

B u t H o m e D e p o t w a i v ed a n y r el i a n ce o n t h i s co n t r act

pr o v i si o n b y f ai l i n g t o ci t e i t

, r e l y o n i t

, o r d ev el o p an y

ar gu men t u si n g i t i n an y man n er i n t he d i st r i c t co u r t ev en

t h o u gh H o r n e asser t ed t h at t h e co mp a ny w as i n b r each

, an d

i n v o k ed J e we le r s Mut u a l

. In f act

, i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t

, H o me

D ep o t si m pl y d en i ed t h at i t b r each ed t h e co n t r act

, an d t h e

co mpan y f a i l ed en t i r el y t o r espo n d t o H o r n e’s ar gu men t u n d er J e we le r s Mut ual an d Shor r P ape r

. A r g u m en t s n o t r ai sed i n t h e
d i st r i ct c o u r t ar e w ai v ed

. Savor y v

. C a nnon , 9 47 F

. 3d 40 9, 43040 N o

. 1 9- 2082

( 7t h C i r

. 2020) ; Milwauke e C t r

. for I nde pe nde nc e

, I nc

. v

. Milwauke e

He alt h C a r

e , LLC

, 929 F

. 3d 489, 4 93–94 ( 7t h C i r

. 2019)

. E v en o n appeal

, Ho me D epo t co n t i n u es t o r el y pr i mar i l y o n i t s cl ai m

t h a t i t may en f o r ce t h e E x cu l pat o r y Pr o v i s i o n becau se i t d i d n o t

b r each t h e co n t r act

, al t h o u gh t h e co mpan y n o w ack

n o w l ed ges

t h a t i t m i gh t n eed t o sh o w m o r e t h an t h at i t p r o v i d ed a d r a i n
cl ean er i n “ as i s” co n d i t i o n

. H av i n g i gn o r ed H o r n e’s ar gu men t

en t i r el y i n t h e d i st r i c t co u r t

, H o me D epo t m a k es o n l y a cu r so r y

an d i n co mpl et e ef f o r t t o r espo n d t o J e we le r s Mut ual o n a ppeal

.

R at h er t h an t r eat i n g t h ese f a i l i n gs as a w a i v er , t h e d i ssen t

t r eat s t h i s n ew a r gu m en t as pr eser v ed b ecau se t h e d i s t r i ct co u r t

co n st r u ct ed t h e ar gu men t f o r H o me D epo t

. B u t u n d er t h e

pr i n ci pl e o f par t y pr esen t at i o n , co u r t s gen er al l y d o no t cr af t

n ew ar gu m en t s f o r a par t y , especi al l y i n ci v i l cases an d
especi al l y w h en t h e par t y i s r epr esen t ed b y co u n sel :

In o u r ad v

er sar i al sy st em o f ad

ju d i cat i o n

, w e
f o l l o w t h e p r i n ci pl e o f par t y p r esen t at i o n

. As

t h i s C o u r t st at ed i n Gr

e e nlaw v

. Unit e d St at e s , 5 54

U. S

. 237, 128 S

. C t

. 2559, 171 L

. Ed

. 2d 399 ( 2008)

, “i n b o t h ci v i l an d cr i mi n a l cases, i n t h e f i r st

i n st an ce a n d o n appeal

. . . , w e r el y o n t h e p ar t i es

t o f r a me t h e i ssu es f o r d eci si o n an d a s si gn t o

co u r t s t h e r o l e o f ne u t r al ar b i t er o f mat t er s t h e

par t i es pr esen t

. ” I d

. , at 243, 128 S

. C t

. 2559. In

cr i mi n al cases, d epar t u r es fr o m t h e par t y

pr esen t at i o n pr i n ci pl e h a v e u su a l l y o ccu r r ed “t o

pr o t ect a pr o se l i t i gan t ' s r i gh t s

. ” I d

. , at 244, 1 28

S

. C t

. 2559; see, e

. g. , C as t r o v

. Unit e d St at e s , 5 40

U. S

. 375, 381–383, 124 S

. C t

. 7 86, 157 L

. E d

. 2d 7 78N o

. 19- 2082 41

( 2003) ( af f i r mi n g co u r t s ’ au t h o r i t y t o r ecast pr o

se l i t i gan t s’ mo t i o n s t o “av o i d an u n n ecessar y
d i s m i s s a l ” o r “ i na p p r o p ri a t e ly s t r i n g e nt appl i cat i o n o f f o r mal l ab el i n g r equ i r emen t s, o r

t o c r eat e a bet t er co r r espo n d en ce b et w e e n t h e

su b st a n ce o f a pr o se mo t i o n ' s c l ai m an d i t s

u n d er l y i n g l egal b asi s” (ci t a t i o n o mi t t ed ) )

. B u t

as a gen er al r u l e , o u r sy st em “i s d esi gn ed

ar o u n d t h e pr emi se t h at [ par t i es r epr esen t ed b y

co mpet en t co u

n sel ] k n o w wh at i s best f o r t h em,

an d ar e r espo n s i b l e f o r ad v an c i n g t h e f act s an d

ar gu men t e nt i t l i n g t h em t o r el i ef

. ” I d

. , at 386,

124 S

. C t

. 7 86 ( S cal i a, J

. , co n c u r r i ng i n par t an d

co n cu r r i n g i n j u d gmen t )

.

Unit e d St at e s v

. Sine ne ng- Smit h

, 140 S

. C t

. 1575, 1579 ( 2020)

. Agai n , H o me D epo t n ev er o n ce i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t r el i ed

o n t h e l i mi t at i o n o f r emed i es pr o v i si o n

. T h i s w el l r epr esen t ed

c o r p o r at i o n i s n o t i n n eed o f o u r assi st an ce i n cr af t ing

ar gu men t s f o r su

m mar y j u d gmen t

, y e t t h e d i st r i ct co u r t an d

n o w t h e d i s sen t r i sk o u r r o l e a s n eu t r a l ar b i t er s t o b e c o me
ad v o cat es fo r o n e si d e o f t h i s d i spu t e. It i s n o t o u r r o l e t o sav e

a par t y f r o m t h e co n sequ en c es o f d r af t i n g a mb i gu o u s o r

co n t r a d i ct o r y co n t r act t er ms, o r f ai l i n g t o ad v an ce ar gu men t s

t h a t may b e ad v an t ageo u s. M o r eo v er , a co mpan

y may d eci d e
f o r st r at egi c b u si n ess r easo n s n o t t o pu r su e le g a l ar gu men t s

t h a t may b e av ai l a b l e t o t h em. It i s n o t d i f f i cu l t t o i magi n e t h at

H o me Depo t mad e a st r at egi c ch o i ce n ot t o r ai se t h e r ef u n d

- i ssu f fi ci en t

- r emed y ar gu men t i n t h e d i st r i ct co u r t b ecau se o f t h e

message t h at t h i s w o u l d d el i v er t o p o t en t i al cu st o mer s. Imagi n e t h e mar k et i n g: “Wh et h er y o u l o s e a fi n ger , a h a n d

, o r42 N o

. 1 9- 2082

an ar m, y o u can r est assu r ed w e w i l l r et u r n y o u r r e nt al f ee!”

W e r i sk o v er r u l i n g a co mpan y ’s b u si n ess j u d gmen t w h en w e

i n t er v en e a n d ad v an ce n ew ar gu men t s o n b eh al f o f a par t y

.

B u t i n an y c ase, t h i s pr o v i si o n d o es l i t t l e t o sav e t h e pr i mar y

pr o mi se i n t h e co n t r act f r o m b eco m i n g i l l u s o r y , an d per h aps

t h a t i s wh

y H o me D epo t d i d n o t a d v o cat e t h i s po s i t i o n i t sel f

u n t i l t h e d i st r i ct co u r t f ash i o n ed t h e ar gu m en t

. J e we le r s M ut ual

r ej ect ed t h e i d ea t h at a r et u r n o f t h e r en t al f ee co u l d r el i ev e t h e
b an k o f l i ab i l i t y f o r b r each i n g a d u t y i t ex pr essl y assu med :

In t h i s co n t r act

, i n ex ch an ge f o r pl a i n t i f f ’s r en t al

f e e, d ef en d an t assu

med t h e o b l i gat i o n t o

ex er ci se o r d i na r y car e t o pr ev en t u n au t h o r i zed

access t o t h e s a f et y d epo si t b o x

. H av i n g

assu med t h i s d u t y

, d ef en d an t can

n o t ex c u l pat e

i t sel f f r o m l i ab i l i t y f o r a b r each o f t h at d u t y

. Accept i n g d ef en d an t ’s ar gu men t w o u l d mean

t h a t

, i f d ef en d an t r o u t i n el y b r each ed t h ese saf et y
d epo si t b o x r en t al agr eemen t s b y h an d i n g t h e
k ey s t o an

y o n e w h o came i n o f f t h e st r eet an d

ask ed f o r t h em, i t w o u l d h av e n o l i ab i l i t y t o i t s

cu st o mer s ex cept t o g i v e t h em t h ei r r en t al f ee
b ack

. It i s s a f e t o assu me t h at

, i f d ef en d an t

exp l a i n ed t h e agr eemen t t h i s w ay i n t h e

co n t r act

, d ef en d an t w o u l d n o t h av e man y saf et y
d epo si t bo x cu st o mer s.

J e we le r s Mut ual

, 820 N

. E

. 2d at 416–17.

A r et u r n o f t h e r en t a l f ee ar gu ab l y c o mpen sat es t h e r en t er
f o r a co mpl et e f ai l u r e t o pr o v i d e a d r ai n r o d d er , an d l eav es t h e

r e n t er i n n o w o r se po si t i o n t h an i f h e h ad n ev er r en t ed t heN o

. 19- 2082 43

pr o d u ct

. B u t r et u r n o f t h e r en t al f ee pr o v i d es n o co mpen sat i o n
f o r t h e b r ea c h o f t h e ex pr ess pr o mi se t o p r o v i d e t h e m ach i n e

i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n

. T h at pr o mi s e i mpl i es a d u t y t o

i n spect t h e d ev i c e u si n g o r d i n ar y c ar e b ef o r e su ppl y i n g i t t o a

r en t er

. Un d er t h e d i ssen t ’s r ead i n g, H o me D epo t co u l d

pr o mi se t o p r o v i d e a mach i n e i n go o d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n , k n o w i n gl y o r n egl i gen t l y p r o v i d e i t i n a d a n ger o u s c o n d i t i o n ,

an d t h en l i mi t an

y d amages c l ai m t o $68. 3 0. In d eed

, i t i s

u n cl ear h o w f ar t h i s r ead i n g co u l d ex t en d : co u l d a co n t r act

pr o v i si o n l i m i t i n g d amages t o o n e d o l l ar r emo v e an agr eemen t

f r o m t h e r eal m o f J e we le r s Mut ual an d i n su l at e H o me D epo t

f r o m l i ab i l i t y f o r k n o w i n gl y o r n egl i gen t l y pr o v i d i n g a m ach i n e

i n po o r (an d po t en t i al l y d an ger o u s) co n d i t i o n ? S u ch a r ead i n g

o f t h e co n t r ac t w o u l d r en d er t h e ex pr ess pr o mi s e t o pr o v i d e

t h e mach i n e i n go o d w o r k i n g co n d i t i o n i l l u s o r y u n d er J e we le r s

Mut ual

.

M o r eo v er

, al t h o u gh t h e co n t r act pu r po r t s t o ab so l v e H o me

D epo t fr o m al l l i ab i l i t y f o r b r each o f t h e co n t r act ( w h i ch i t may

n o t d o w i t h o u t r en d er i n g t h e ex pr ess pr o mi s e o f t h e co n t r act

i l l u so r y )

, n o t h i ng i n t h e co n t r act l i mi t s r emed i es f o r t h e

co mpan y ’s n egl i gen ce i n f ai l i n g t o su p p l y a m ach i n e i n go o d

w o r ki ng c o n d i t i o n

. T

o b e su r e, Ho me D epo t co u l d h av e

ex er ci sed o r d i n ar y car e i n i n spect i n g t h e mach i n e, an d m i ssed

so me l at en t d ef ect

. As w e ex pl a i ned ab o v e, H o m e D epo t

w o u l d n o t b e l i ab l e u

n d er t h o se ci r c u mst an ces. T h e d i ssen t

seems t o go f ar t h er an d assu me n o t o n l y t h at t h i s c ould h appen ( i. e

. t h at t h e co mpan

y co u l d ex er c i s e o r d i n ar y car e an d mi ss a
l at en t d ef ect ) b u t t h at i t act u al l y did h appen h er e. B u t t h er e ar e
d i spu t ed i ssu es o f mat er i a l f act as t o w he t he r H o m e D epo t

ex er ci sed o r d i n ar y car e i n i n spect i n g t h e mach i n e i t r en t ed t o44 N o

. 1 9- 2082

H o r n e , a nd o n l y a j u r y can r eso l v e t h o se i ssu es. As w e n o t ed

ear l i er , a par t y seek i n g t o en f o r c e a f av o r a b l e p r o v i si o n h as t h e
b u r d en o f pr o v i n g su

b st an t i al c o mpl i an ce w i t h t h e mat er i al

t er ms o f t h e co n t r act

. Jame s , 792 N

. E

. 2d at 464; G olds t e in

, 507

N

. E

. 2d at 1 67–68.

Al t h o u gh Il l i n o i s l aw al l o w s par t i es t o b ar gai n aw ay t h ei r

r i gh t s, i t r ead s e xc u l pat o r y c l au ses n ar r o w l y , an d agai n st t h e
d r af t e r

. T h i s co n t r act w as an y t h i n g b u t c l ear

, an d i t s
amb i gu o u s an d co n t r ad i ct o r y l an gu age d o es n o t pr o t ect H o me

D epo t t o t h e d eg r ee a f f o r d ed b y t h e d i st r i ct co u r t o r t h e
d i ssen t

.

I I I

.

B ecau se H o r n e h as r ai sed gen u i n e i ssu es o f m a t er i al fact

r egar d i n g w h et h er H o me D epo t b r each ed t h e co n t r act b y
f ai l i n g t o pr o v i d e a d r a i n cl ean er i n go o d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n ,

w e v acat e t h e j u d gmen t i n f a v o r o f H o me D epo t an d r eman d

f o r pr o ceed i n gs co n si s t en t w i t h t h i s o pi n i o n

. W e a f f i rm t he
j u d gmen t i n f av o r o f E l ect r i c E el

, an d w e al so a f f i r m t h e c o u r t ’s

r u l i n g o n t h e R GIS s u

b po en a

. B ecau se w e v acat e t h e j u d gmen t

i n par t

, w e al so v acat e t h e d i st r i ct co u r t ’s aw a r d o f co st s t o t h e
d e f end a nt s a s p r e v a i l i ng p a r t i e s , a nd r e m a nd f o r

r eco n si d er a t i o n as t o E l ect r i c E el

, w h i ch r emai n s a p r ev ai l i n g

par t y

.

AFFIR M ED IN P AR T

AN D V AC A TE D AN D R E M AN D E D IN P AR T

.No . 19

- 2082 45

S CUDDER

, Circuit Judge

, dissenting in part

. I join all parts ofthe majority opinion except the analysis and conclusion regarding Horne’s breach

- of

- warranty and negligence claims against Home Depot. In my view, any damages available for

Horne’s breach

- of

- warranty claim are limited by the rental

agre ement’s Limited Liability Clause. And as for Horne’s negligence claim, the Exculpatory Clause bars him from recovering damages for his injury.

I

A

Starting with the breach

- of

- warranty claim, all agree that

Horne’s claim sounds in contract. Under Illinois law, “[a]
party cannot promise to act in a certain manner in one portion of a contract and then exculpate itself from liability for breach of that very promise in another part of the contract.” Jewelers

Mut. Ins. Co. v. Firstar Bank Ill. , 820 N.E.2d 411, 4 15 (Ill. 2004). Doing so renders the contract illusory. See id. at 415

– 16 (citing Shorr Paper Prods., Inc. v. Aurora Elevator, Inc. , 555 N.E.2d 735, 738 (Ill. App. Ct. 1990); and Contact Lenses Unlimited, Inc. v.
Johnson , 531 N.E.2d 928, 931 (Ill. App. Ct. 1988)). The majority and I agree on this basic legal principle. So far, so good.

But the majority then relies on an Illinois Supreme Court

decision

, Jewelers Mutual

, to conclude that applying the Exculpatory Clause to Horne’s breach

- of

- warranty claim woul d make Home Depot’s rental agreement illusory. It is at this point that our paths diverge. Based on my reading of therental agreement, Home Depot provides customers a remedy

— albeit a limited one

— in the event the company breaches its obligation to provide equipment in “good working condition.” Because Home Depot does not entirely exculpate itself46 No . 19

- 2082

in the event of this contractual breach, the rental agreement does not contain illusory promises.

As the majority explains, the plaintiffs in Jewelers Mutual

“were insurers of individuals and businesses that rented safety deposit boxes at a bank. ” Maj. Op. 2 5 . The rental agreement included a clause providing that the “customer assumes all risks of depositing the contents of the box with defendant

and that there ‘sha ll be no liability on the part of said bank, for loss of, or injury to, the contents of said box from any cause

whatever.’” Jewelers Mut

. , 820 N.E.2d at 414

– 15. The next sentence of the rental agreement, however, indicated that the bank assumed “one partic ular liability”

— that of exercising “ordinary care to prevent the unauthorized opening of the

box.” Id. at 415. The Illinois Supreme Court explained that the

two clauses could not be reconciled because “ [ a ] party cannot promise to act in a certain manner in one portion of a contract” by promising to exercise ordinary care but then completely “exculpate itself from ... that very promise” which “formed the heart of the parties’ agreement.” Id. And the situation was not one, the court explained, where, “in the event of a breach, the plaintiff’s damages are limited to a return of

the rental fee.” Id. In the end, then, Jewelers Mutual held that the “exculpatory provision is not applicable to an allegation

that defen dant breached its [contractual obligation],” so the plaintiff could seek damages for the breach. Id. at 417.

Jewelers Mutual would apply to Home Depot’s rental agreement if the Exculpatory Clause totally and completely eliminated liability for failing to provide the rental equipment in “good working condition.” Indeed, the majority adopts thisNo . 19

- 2082 47

exact position. But that view proves untenable because it focuses only on the Exculpatory Clause without regard to the Limited Liability Clause, which provides:

Shou ld The Home Depot fail to meet any of its obligations under this Agreement, Customer’sonly remedy is repair or replacement of deficient Equipment or to receive, at The Home Depot’s option, a rental charge adjustment.

R. 151

- 3, at ¶ 3.

The majority treats Home Depot as having waived any reliance on the Limited Liability Clause. Though the majority iscorrect that Home Depot did not reference the Limited Liability Clause in its summary judgment papers, the district court discussed the clause in its order gra nting Home Depot’s motion for summary judgment. More specifically, the districtcourt recognized that “the exculpatory clause, when read together with the provision in Paragraph 3, limits Home Depot’s contractual liability but does not entirely exculpate

H ome Depot.” Horne v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. , 2019 WL
556709, at *5 ( N.D. Ill. Feb. 12, 2019). In my view, the district

court’s reference to and reliance on the Limited Liability

Clause means there is no waiver here. See United States v. City of Chicago , 8 69 F.2d 1033, 1036 ( 7th Cir. 1989) (“It is folly for [a party] to assert that an appeals court on review of a district court judgment cannot consider the merits of each and every theory that the district judge relied upon in deciding the
case.”). Moreover, under Illinois law we must construe the

one

- page rental agreement “as a whole, viewing particular terms or provisions in the context of the entire agreement.”

Matthews v. Chi

. Transit Auth. , 51 N.E.3d 753, 776 (Ill. 2016);

see id. (explaining contracts sh ould not be interpreted “by48 No . 19

- 2082

viewing a clause or provision in isolation”). Moreover, “where both a general and a specific provision in a contract address the same subject, the more specific clause controls.”

Grevas v. U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co. , 604 N.E.2d 942, 944 (Ill. 1992).

Reading the rental agreement as a whole, the general Exculpatory Clause combined with the more specific Limited Liability Clause do not entirely exculpate Home Depot from liability. Rather, the rental agreement allows Horne to recover

limi ted damages. Home Depot , in short, is not completely off the hook for a breach: because the Limited Liability Clause applies to Horne’s contractual claim, the Exculpatory Clause does not render the rental agreement illusory. So Jewelers Mutual does not gov ern.

In charting a different course, the majority opinion lists cases to support the proposition that “a party in materialbreach may not enforce a provision of a contract that is favorable to him, such as an exculpatory clause .” Maj. Op. 20 (emphasis adde d). What these cases ultimately seem to be getting at, however, is the settled principle that a party cannot maintaina suit for damages for breach of contract when the complaining party is also in breach. See Robinhorne Const r . Corp. v. Snyder , 251 N.E.2d 641, 645

– 46 (Ill. App. Ct. 1969) (citing Glenridge Coal Co. v. Marion County Coal Co. , 205 Ill. App. 264, 265 (Ill. App. Ct. 1917) (“An action for breach of a contract cannot be maintained where the complaining party is in default.”);

and Cons umers Mut. Oil Co. v. W. Petroleum Co. , 216 Ill. App. 382, 385 (Ill. App. Ct. 1920) (“[A] party suing for damages for a breach of a contract must not only aver but prove he is not himself in default as to the agreement for the breach of which

the suit is b rought

... . ”)). Indeed, of all five cases relied on byNo . 19

- 2082 49

the majority, none holds that a breaching party may not defend itself by relying on the contract’s exculpatory clause, absent some other reason rendering the clause unenforceable.

See, e.g. , Dubey v. Pub

. Storage, Inc. , 918 N.E.2d 265, 276 (Ill. App. Ct. 2009) (explaining that a damages limitation clause was unenforceable on unconscionability grounds and because
it violated Illinois’s Landlord and Tenant Act). Even the majority opinion seems to acknowledg e the limitations of itsanalysis by recognizing that exculpatory clauses only “generally come into play once there has been a breach.” Maj. Op.

2 1

. Assuming Horne can prove that Home Depot failed to provide the drain

- rodding machine in good working order

,his remedy for the contractual breach should be limited to “repair or replacement” of the machine, or at Home Depot’s option, a rental charge adjustment of $63.80. I would remand to the district court with instructions that the remedy for the

breach

- of

- w arranty claim cannot deviate from or exceed the compensation allowed by the Limited Liability Clause.

B

Next up is the negligence claim. The majority opinion offers no real distinction in its analysis of Horne’s contract and negligence claims. Rather, the majority concludes that because nothing in paragraph 3’s Limited Liability Clause applies to claims for negligence, Horne can proceed to trial onhis tort claim. But because I read the Exculpatory Clause’s language in paragraph 9 as applying to claims that sound in negligence, I would treat Horne’s contract and tort claims as distinct from one another.50 No . 19

- 2082

Lessors of equipment generally owe a duty of care to those expected to use the equipment. The leading Illinois case discussing negligence claims in this context is Huckabee v. Bell &

Howell, Inc. , 265 N.E.2d 134 (Ill. 1970). The plaintiff in Huckabeesuffered a fractured jaw and broken wrists after the scaffolding on which he was standing tipped and fell to the ground.

Id. at 136. Huckabee explaine d that, in cases involving leased equipment, a bailor may be liable to a third person if:

(1) [H]e supplied the chattel in question, (2) the chattel was defective at the time it was supplied, (3) the defect could have been discovered by a reasonable inspe ction, when inspection is required ( I .e., where the danger of substantial harm because of a defect is great, as we deem it is here), and (4) the defect was the proximate cause of the injury.

Id. at 137 (citing Chambliss v. Walker Constr. Co. , 197 N.E.2d 83

, 86 (Ill. App. Ct. 1964) (defective truck); and Witt v. John Hennes Trucking Co. , 199 N.E.2d 231, 234 (Ill. App. Ct. 1964) (defective
crane)). Section 408 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts, which Illinois courts apply, similarly provides that “[o]ne

wh o leases a chattel as safe for immediate use is subject to liability to those whom he should expect to use the chattel ... if

the lessor fails to exercise reasonable care to make it safe for such use or to disclose its actual condition to those who may

be ex pected to use it.” Restatement (Second) of Torts § 408 (Am. L. Inst. 1965) ; see, e.g. , Brobbey v. Enter. Leasing Co. of Chi

. , 935 N.E.2d 1084, 1093

– 94 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010) (applying section
408). Comment ( a ) to section 408 then adds this instruction :

When lessor must inspect. The fact that a chattel is

leased for immediate use makes it unreasonableNo . 19

- 2082 51

for the lessor to expect that the lessee will domore than give it the most cursory of inspections. The lessor must, therefore, realize that t he safe use of the chattel can be secured only by precautions taken by him before turning it over

to the lessee.

... If the chattel is made by a third person, the lessor is required to exercise reasonable care to inspect it before turning it over to the less ee

. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 408 cmt. a (second emphasis
added).

Notwithstanding this default duty that lessors owe to lessees, parties may generally contract around liability for negligence. Illinois law is clear on the point. “Public policy stron gly

favors freedom to contract, as is manifest in both the United
States Constitution and [the Illinois] constitution.” McClure Eng’g Assocs., Inc. v. Reuben H. Donnelley Corp. , 447 N.E.2d 400, 402 (Ill. 1983) (citation omitted). Under Illinois law, a part ymay contract to avoid liability for its own negligence and, absent fraud or willful and wanton negligence, the contract will
be valid and enforceable unless: (1) there is a substantial disparity in the bargaining position of the two parties; (2) enforcin g the contract would violate public policy; or (3) something in the social relationship between the parties militates against upholding the contract. See Garrison v. Combined Fitness C tr.

, Ltd. , 559 N.E.2d 187, 189

– 90 (Ill. App. Ct. 1990); see also Restate ment (Second) of Contracts § 195 (Am. L. Inst. 1981) (listing situations in which a contract term that exempts a party from tort liability is unenforceable on public policy grounds);
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 496B (“A plaintiff who by

contract or oth erwise expressly agrees to accept a risk of harm arising from the defendant’s negligent or reckless conduct52 No . 19

- 2082

cannot recover for such harm, unless the agreement is invalid as contrary to public policy .”).

The underlying rationale for these principles is that “courts should not interfere with the right of two parties to contract with one another if they freely and knowingly enter into the agreement.” Garrison , 559 N.E.2d at 190. The majorityconcludes, and I agree, that none of the three exceptions renders the rental agreement’s Exculpatory Clause unenforceable. Indeed, Illinois law allows parties to allocate the risk of negligence through use of exculpatory clauses, see Reuben H. Donnelley Corp. v. Krasny Supply Co. , 592 N.E.2d 8, 11 (Ill. App.
Ct. 1991), and as the majority explains, Horne’s “David andGoliath” argument regarding his bargaining position as compared to Home Depot’s “is not the sort of disparity that violates public policy under Illinois law.” Maj. Op. 33. Nor did Horne have any type of special relationship with Home Depot that Illinois courts have identified as violating public policy.

To be sure, exculpatory clauses “do not enjoy special favor” under Illinois law

. Meyers v. Rockford Sys.

, Inc. , 625 N.E.2d 916, 921 (Ill. App. Ct. 1993). They mus t be strictly construed against the benefitting party, especially when that party drafted the release. See Harris v. Walker , 519 N.E.2d 917, 919 (Ill. 1988). “Such clauses must spell out the intention of the parties with great particularity and will not be construed to defeat a claim which is not explicitly covered by their

terms.” Scott & Fetzer Co. v. Montgomery Ward & Co.

, 4 93
N.E.2d 1022, 1029

– 30 (Ill. 1986). Illinois law does not require the “precise occurrence which results in injury” to have been

con templated by the contracting parties at the time they enter

into the contract. Garrison , 559 N.E.2d at 190

. Instead , the injury must fall “within the scope of possible dangers ordinarilyNo . 19

- 2082 53

accompanying the activity and

, thus, [be] reasonably contemplated by the plaintiff.” Id.

Recall that the Exculpatory Clause in the Home Depot rental agreement states the following:

RELEASE, INDEMNIFICATION AND

WAIVER OF DAMAGES. TO THE FULLEST

EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CUSTOMER
INDEMNIFIES, RELEASES, WAIVES AND

HOLDS THE HO ME DEPOT HARMLESS
FROM AND AGAINST ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES,
EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES
AND EXPENSES), LIABILITIES, AND
DAMAGES (INCLUDING PERSONAL
INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, LOST
PROFITS, AND SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL AND
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES) IN ANY W AY
CONNECTED WITH THE EQUIPMENT, ITS

OPERATION OR USE, OR ANY DEFECT OR

FAILURE THEREOF OR A BREACH OF THE

HOME DEPOT’S OBLIGATIONS HEREIN.

R. 151

- 3, at ¶ 9. The rental agreement also includes an Assumption

- of

- Risk Clause, which provides, in relevant part:

CUSTOMER LIABILITY. DURING THE
RENTAL PERIOD, CUSTOMER ASSUMES

ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AND FULL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POSSESSSION,

CUSTODY AND OPERATION OF THE
EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT

LIMITED TO, RENTAL CHARGES,
CUSTOMER TRANSPORT, LOADING AND54 No . 19

- 2082

U NLOADING, PROPERTY DAMAGES AND
DESTRUCTION, LOSSES, PERSONAL
INJURY, AND DEATH.

Id. at ¶ 7.

The scope of these provisions is broad. The Exculpatory

Clause expressly includes within its list of assumed risks “personal injury” resulting from the “equipment, its operation or use.” Horne’s hand injury falls squarely within that language, and the injury he suffered falls within the scope of injuries reasonably contemplated by him. Remember, too,

that Horne already knew from Home Depot’s Safety and Operation Guid e, which he had reviewed before, that he was to

“use caution at all times” and that the “cable s can twist or kink and cause serious injury,” since “fingers or other body parts can be caught in rotating parts.”

The majority rightly concludes that the Exculpatory Clause does not violate public policy, nor is the disparity in the parties’ bargaining po sitions so great that the contract cannot be enforced as written. Absent any language in the rental agreement that Home Depot contractually assumed a duty of care, I would enforce the Exculpatory Clause as written against Horne’s negligence claim. See, e.g

. , Jewelers Mut

. , 820 N.E.2d at 415 (assuming liability to exercise ordinary care to prevent unauthorized opening of box).

To be clear, Home Depot’s promise to provide the machine in “good working condition” is not equivalent to the bank’s promise in Jewel ers Mutual to exercise ordinary care in preventing the unauthorized opening of a box. This is because it remains conceivable that Home Depot or any other lessorNo . 19

- 2082 55

could exercise reasonable care

— including by adequately inspecting a rental device before turnin g it over to the consumer

— while at the same time, providing a machine that was not in good working condition due to some latent defect that went undetected during the inspection. In such a scenario, the lessor would have breached a contractual duty without acting negligently. Breaching a contractual obligation and acting negligently are not one in the same. Finding nothing in the rental agreement suggesting that Home Depot promised to act with a specific standard of care, the Exculpatory Clause should apply . And its application bars Horne from recovering damages based in negligence.

II

A final, practical observation warrants underscoring. Hardware and other big

- box stores presumably rely on limited

- liability and exculpatory provisions as one way to keep

the price of the rentals affordable. Customers agree to this

trade

- off by signing the contract . Given today’s majority decision, these stores might do well to revisit their rental agreements. Including contradictory promises

— such as offering
equipment “as is” and “in good working condition”

— causes a real, yet avoidable, contractual conundrum. In the same vein, exculpating all liability in one clause, but only limiting that liability in another, creates another interpretive challenge

— one in which I disagree wit h the majority’s approach.

I respectfully dissent.