Opinion ID: 1894152
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Are the Control Logic and Control Panels Products Under the AEMLD?

Text: Westinghouse also contends that it cannot be held liable under the AEMLD for its drawing of the control logic or supplying the control panels because, it argues, neither are products under the AEMLD. Relying upon Oxford Lumber Co. v. Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co., 472 So.2d 973 (Ala.1985), Westinghouse argues that its work of drawing the control logic for the belt wrapper can be viewed only as a service and is not proper for consideration under the AEMLD. In Oxford Lumber Co., the plaintiffs sought recovery under the AEMLD for a defective insurance contract. Unlike Westinghouse, however, the defendant in Oxford Lumber Co. did not manufacture any item of which the plaintiff could physically make use. In this case Westinghouse designed the control system, the regulating system, and the tension and speed control of the CAL. In addition, Westinghouse supplied motors, the control for the motors, desks, operators stations, control cabinets, the equipment to control the speed and tension of the process line, the logic solenoid, and the logic relays, all in accordance with the design of the electrical circuitry. The combination of the products supplied by Westinghouse made up the electrical controls of the CAL; thus, Westinghouse provided more than simply a service to Reynolds. Westinghouse also argues that it cannot be sued under the AEMLD because the control logic and control panels can be viewed only as component parts of the CAL, and under Alabama law, Westinghouse cannot be held liable for defects unrelated to the component parts it supplied. See Sanders v. Ingram Equip., Inc., 531 So.2d 879, 880 (Ala.1988). This argument is unpersuasive, however, because Hannah does not claim that Westinghouse manufactured component parts of a defective belt wrapper; Hannah contends that the electrical controls supplied by Westinghouse are themselves defective because, she argues, possible safety devices within the controls were omitted. Sanders is inapplicable when the plaintiff seeks to recover based upon the theory that the product supplied by the defendant is itself defective.