Opinion ID: 3045899
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Alternative Designs Suggested

Text: by the Berriers The Berriers suggest several alternative designs that could have been incorporated into Simplicity’s mower. The first is an NMIR feature that prevents the blades from being powered by the motor when the mower is shifted into reverse. App. 374. However, even with loss of power, momentum causes the blades to continue to spin for a short time as the mower is backing up. Id. The feature requires disengagement and re-engagement of the blades each time the mower reverses direction. App. 35. This design was being used by one lawn mower manufacturer, MTD Products Inc., when Shoff’s mower was manufactured.8 App. 767. The Berriers also suggest an NMIR feature that utilizes the aforementioned “override” switch that would allow the operator to choose to mow in reverse as needed or for an entire mowing session. (“Override Device”) App. 375. This design is now required by the 2003 ANSI standards. App. 579. The final alternative design suggested by the Berriers United Chair Co., 756 A.2d 690, 693 (Pa. Super. 2000). The evidence may be similarly relevant to the Berriers’ strict liability theory. 8 We will therefore refer to this feature as the “MTD design.” 13 is roller-guards on the back of the mowing deck. They create a barrier that greatly reduces the risk of any “foreign object” slipping under the deck (i.e. blade housing) as the mower is backing up. A Simplicity engineer and the Berriers’ design expert both testified that roller-barriers reduce injuries. App. 593-96, 553-54. In fact, Simplicity asked OPEI to adopt this design based on testing it had conducted that supported the effectiveness of the roller-barrier in preventing back-over injuries.9 App. 593-94, 597-98.