Opinion ID: 399919
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Submission of express warranty to jury.

Text: 15 Cook next contends that the trial court should not have submitted the theory of express warranty to the jury. It asserts that the evidence submitted at trial failed to establish either an express warranty or its subsequent breach. We disagree. 16 In determining whether the court erred in submitting plaintiffs' express warranty theory to the jury, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, and give the plaintiffs the benefit of all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the evidence. See Dulin v. Circle F Industries, Inc., 558 F.2d 456, 466 (8th Cir. 1977); Davis v. Burlington Northern, Inc., 541 F.2d 182, 186 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1002, 97 S.Ct. 533, 50 L.Ed.2d 613 (1976); Linn v. Garcia, 531 F.2d 855, 858 (8th Cir. 1976). This court cannot disturb the jury's verdict unless it determines as a matter of law that the evidence failed to establish either the existence or breach of the express warranty. 17 Under Nebraska law, express warranties may be created by affirmation, promise, description, or sample. 3 Representations in a brochure can create an express warranty. See Hawkins Construction Co. v. Matthews Co., 190 Neb. 546, 209 N.W.2d 643 (1973). Furthermore, a manufacturer of a product may be liable even though not in privity of contract with the purchaser. Id. at 654; Sylvestri v. Warner & Swasey Co., 398 F.2d 598 (2d Cir. 1968). 18 The Nevilles maintain that an express warranty arose from the affirmation of Coro-foam 340's flame retardance in the Cook brochure they received from Kreis. The Nevilles assert that Cook breached this express warranty when the insulation caught fire and destroyed the building. 19 Because fire had destroyed the brochure, the Nevilles submitted oral testimony that they had received the brochure, and had glanced through it before purchasing the insulation from Thomas Kreis. Specifically, Dennis Neville testified that the brochure told of its (the insulation's) fire retardance. 20 Cook contends that this testimony is insufficient to submit the issue of express warranty to the jury. Because Neville's testimony does not indicate what the brochure said regarding Coro-foam's fire retardance, Cook asserts the jury was permitted to speculate about Cook's actual representations of fire retardance. 21 We believe that Neville's testimony, along with other evidence, supports the jury's finding that Cook had created an express warranty of flame retardance. In addition to Neville's testimony regarding the contents of the brochure, Kerwin Meinert, the head of Cook's Coro-foam division, testified that Cook had distributed brochures describing the self-extinguishing and nonburning characteristics of its polyurethane insulation. The Nevilles introduced a copy of a 1962 brochure from Cook that referred to the flame retardant and self-extinguishing characteristics of one of its foam insulation products. 4 22 Finally, the record indicates that Kreis demonstrated the fire retardant and self-extinguishing qualities of Coro-foam for the Nevilles, by briefly holding a lighted match underneath a small piece of Coro-foam 340. Although the insulation burned when directly exposed to the match, the fire went out when Kreis removed the match. 5 23 We believe this evidence was sufficient to permit the jury to find that Cook had represented to its customers that Coro-foam insulation contained a self-extinguishing characteristic as a flame retardant. The immediate spreading of the fire in the Nevilles' building established a basis for the jury to determine that this express warranty had been breached. 24 Cook, nevertheless, asserts that its brochure contained, at most, a limited express warranty of flame retardance. It points out that the demonstration conducted by Kreis was a simplified version of the American Society for Testing and Materials Test D-1692. Cook asserts that this test serves to verify that Coro-foam contains fire retardant chemicals. However, the Nevilles failed to introduce any evidence that the Coro-foam 340 insulation did not contain fire retardant chemicals and Cook maintains, therefore, that the Nevilles did not establish breach of the limited, express warranty. In essence, Cook asserts that the standards of the D-1692 test limited any express warranty of Coro-foam's flame retardance. 25 We reject Cook's interpretation of the warranty. In light of the evidence submitted on Cook's representations of flame retardance, the jury was entitled to consider these representations as an ordinary person would understand them and resolve any doubts about the warranty in favor of the buyer. See McCormack v. Hankscraft Co., 278 Minn. 322, 154 N.W.2d 488, 498 (1967). 26 Moreover, Nebraska's version of the Uniform Commercial Code restricts the effect of language attempting to limit or negate an express warranty. 27 (1) Words or conduct relevant to the creation of an express warranty and words or conduct tending to negate or limit warranty shall be construed wherever reasonable as consistent with each other; but subject to the provisions of this article on parol or extrinsic evidence (Section 2-202) negation or limitation is inoperative to the extent that such construction is unreasonable. (6 Neb.Rev.Stat. § 2-316(1) (Reissue 1980).) 28 Cook would have its warranty of flame retardance qualified by the ratings for nonburning and self-extinguishing established in the D-1692 test. The Nevilles' expert witness, Dr. Brady Williamson, testified that wood and even dried newspaper would achieve a rating of nonburning or self-extinguishing under the D-1692 test. To construe the warranty created by the reference to flame retardance, as limited by ratings in the D-1692 test would effectively eliminate any warranty of flame retardance. Because the Nevilles lacked the expertise to appreciate the technical significance of this test, the construction of the warranty urged by Cook is unreasonable. Accordingly, the reference to the D-1692 test would be ineffective to limit the express warranty of flame retardance. See 6 Neb.Rev.Stat. § 2-316(1) (Reissue 1980). 29 Thus, we reject Cook's argument that the trial court erred by instructing the jury on express warranty as a basis for recovery. 30