Opinion ID: 2072957
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of implied warranties and strict liability to defendant Minnesota Natural Gas Company.

Text: Minnesota Natural Gas Company inspected the installation of the furnace prior to connecting it to the gas line. This clearly established a duty on its part to perform that task without negligence. Plaintiffs contend that this inspection by defendant gas company created implied warranties that the installation was proper and also subjected the gas company to strict tort liability. However, it does not appear in this case that plaintiffs requested implied-warranty and strict-liability instructions as to Minnesota Natural Gas Company. Such general instructions were requested, but they only referred to defendant Ries, and not to defendant gas company. From a reading of the requested instructions, it is not reasonable to conclude that plaintiffs asked the trial court to give these instructions in regard to the gas company. Thus, plaintiffs are not in a position to argue on appeal that such instructions should have been given as to the gas company. As a final matter, we must question why plaintiffs never raised the issues of possible defects in the furnace itself, or of the location of the furnace grate as being contrary to installation instructions by the manufacturer, or the possibility that even if carbon monoxide gas were not present other noxious gases, such as carbon dioxide, were present which could have caused Mrs. O'Laughlin's symptoms and her resultant fall. However, plaintiffs chose to try their case only on the theory of carbon monoxide gas as being the cause of Mrs. O'Laughlin's symptoms and resultant fall. Accordingly, we affirm as to defendant Minnesota Natural Gas Company, and reverse as to defendant John L. Ries, and remand for a new trial in which the trial court must give instructions on the implied warranties and strict liability in regard to defendant Ries. Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for a new trial.