Opinion ID: 1172230
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Electric heater

Text: In their motion for summary judgment, MagneTek and Sensory also asserted that the Sammises did not produce any admissible evidence regarding MagneTek and Sensory's alleged roles in the design, sale, or manufacture of the toe heater or its components that allegedly caused the fire. Rule 56(e) requires that, if the moving party submits affidavits or other evidence in support of its motion, the adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of that party's pleadings, but the party's response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. In addition, the rule requires that affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. I.R.C.P. 56(e). Before applying the liberal construction and reasonable inferences rules required when considering a motion for summary judgment, we must first analyze the threshold question of admissibility under Rule 56(e). Rhodehouse v. Stutts, 125 Idaho 208, 211, 868 P.2d 1224, 1227 (1994) (citing Hecla Mining Co. v. Star-Morning Mining Co., 122 Idaho 778, 784, 839 P.2d 1192, 1198 (1992)). Because MagneTek and Sensory submitted Powell's affidavit and the Sammises' responses to interrogatories in support of their motion for summary judgment, the Sammises could not simply refer to the allegations made in their pleadings to resist the motion. Corbridge v. Clark Equip. Co., 112 Idaho 85, 87, 730 P.2d 1005, 1007 (1986) (quoting Snake River Equip. Co. v. Christensen, 107 Idaho 541, 549, 691 P.2d 787, 795 (Ct.App.1984)). See also I.R.C.P. 56(e). Rule 56(e) required the Sammises to set forth specific facts demonstrating that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding MagneTek and Sensory's involvement in the design, manufacture, or sale of the toe heater or its components. In the amended complaint, the Sammises linked MagneTek and Sensory to the manufacture of the fan motor used in the toe heater by alleging that Gould, the actual manufacturer of the motor, sold its electric motor division to Sensory, a division of MagneTek. To support these allegations, the Sammises submitted the affidavit of James Willmore. Willmore explained that an examination of the fan motors revealed that they were manufactured by Gould. To connect MagneTek and Sensory with Gould, Willmore stated: 6. On February 27, 1995, I called the Defendant Gould, Inc. to inquire about their motor division. I was informed that the Defendant Gould had at one time owned Century Electric of St. Louis, Missouri, which was their motor division. The Defendant Gould was sold to Nippon Mining. Subsequently, Nippon Mining sold the Century Electric operation to the Defendant MagneTek. I telephoned Defendant MagneTek in St. Louis to determine if I could find out if they still make the type of motor that was in the above-described heater. In addition, I was informed that the Defendant MagneTek makes motors at several locations and does not use the Century trade-mark any longer, however, Defendant MagneTek is in the business of making motors. . . . 7. Upon further investigation, I have learned that the Defendant MagneTek Century Electric is a subsidiary of the Defendant MagneTek that manufactures the above-described fan motors. At the hearing on the motion for summary judgment, counsel for MagneTek and Sensory moved to strike these paragraphs on the ground that they are inadmissible hearsay and thus violate Rule 56(e). This case is thus distinguishable from Clarke v. Prenger, 114 Idaho 766, 760 P.2d 1182 (1988), discussed in Rhodehouse v. Stutts, 125 Idaho 208, 868 P.2d 1224 (1994), where neither the attorneys nor the district judge mentioned Rule 56(e)'s requirements. Rhodehouse, 125 Idaho at 213, 868 P.2d at 1229. Under those circumstances, we had to assume that the lower court considered all of the materials before it, including affidavits that may or may not have complied with Rule 56(e). Id., 868 P.2d at 1229. It would have been inappropriate for us to consider the sufficiency of the affidavits where that issue was never raised before the lower court. Id., 868 P.2d at 1229. In contrast, in the instant case, although the district court did not specifically rule on MagneTek and Sensory's motion to strike paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Willmore affidavit under Rule 56(e), the motion to strike was sufficient to raise the issue before the trial court. We must thus determine whether the Willmore affidavit meets the admissibility requirement of Rule 56(e). Oats v. Nissan Motor Corp. in the U.S.A., 126 Idaho 162, 166, 879 P.2d 1095, 1099 (1994) (analyzing affidavit submitted in opposition to summary judgment motion, finding it flawed under Rule 56(e), and affirming district court's grant of summary judgment). An examination of the Willmore affidavit establishes that it does not comply with Rule 56(e). The statements made in paragraphs 6 and 7 would not be admissible at trial as they constitute hearsay. See, e.g., State v. Shama Resources Ltd. Partnership, 127 Idaho 267, 271, 899 P.2d 977, 981 (1995). See also I.R.E. 801, 802. Although these statements would constitute admissions by a party-opponent (Gould) and thus not hearsay if offered against that party, these statements are not admissions when offered against a party-opponent who did not make the statements (here, MagneTek and Sensory). Though apparently conceding that paragraphs 6 and 7 are hearsay and thus inadmissible at trial, the Sammises argue that an expert may rely on potentially inadmissible evidence in rendering an opinion, citing I.R.E. 703 and Doty v. Bishara, 123 Idaho 329, 848 P.2d 387 (1992). While this is true, it does not apply to the instant case. Willmore is an electrical engineer, retained as a technical expert by the Sammises to investigate the cause of the fire. He stated in his affidavit that he believed that a malfunction in the heater caused the fire. As an electrical engineer, he was qualified to render such an opinion. In forming this opinion, however, he did not rely on the statements made in paragraphs 6 and 7 regarding the alleged corporate transfers of the motor division that manufactured a component of the heater. In addition, he was not qualified as an expert in business mergers, corporate transactions, or corporate structures; he thus cannot render an opinion on these subjects. See Marty v. State, 122 Idaho 766, 769, 838 P.2d 1384, 1387 (1992) (trial court did not abuse its discretion by striking affidavit where affiant was not an expert in hydrology and thus not qualified to render an opinion as to the anticipated frequency of flooding). We therefore hold that Willmore's affidavit does not suffice under Rule 56(e) to raise a genuine issue of fact linking MagneTek and Sensory to Gould, the manufacturer of the fan motor. The Sammises did not produce any admissible evidence to support their allegations that Sensory, a division of MagneTek, purchased the electric motor division from Gould, the manufacturer of the fan motor found in the heater. The Sammises thus did not raise any genuine issues of material fact as to MagneTek and Sensory. We affirm the district court's order granting MagneTek and Sensory's motions for summary judgment.