Opinion ID: 149845
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Nature of the Alleged Design Defects

Text: In a products liability action under Rhode Island law, the plaintiff must prove the following five elements: (1) that there was a defect in the design or construction of the product; (2) that the defect existed at the time the product left the hands of the defendant; (3) that the defect rendered the product unreasonably dangerous; (4) that the product was being used in a way in which it was intended at the time of the accident; [7] and (5) that the defect was the proximate cause of the accident and the plaintiff's injuries. Jodoin v. Toyota Motor Corp., 284 F.3d 272, 276 (1st Cir.2002) (citing Raimbeault v. Takeuchi Mfg. (U.S.) Ltd., 772 A.2d 1056, 1063 (R.I. 2001)). [8] Sheehan alleges three different types of design defects. First, she contends that the coping was too narrow, which caused her to lose her balance when she stood on it to dive. Second, she contends that the coping was unstable, which also contributed to her loss of balance. Third, she contends that the coping design tempted her to climb on it to dive, and that it should have been designed so that it would have been difficult or impossible to stand on it at all. [9]