Opinion ID: 772378
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hussman's Liability for Defective Design

Text: 5 The plaintiffs argue that the district court abused its discretion in excluding the testimony of their expert, Dale Gumz. We disagree. The admission of expert testimony lies within the broad discretion of the district court and will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. See Peitzmeier v. Hennessy Indus., Inc., 97 F.3d 293, 296 (8th Cir. 1996). Under Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589-92 (1993), the district court acts as gatekeeper to screen expert testimony for relevance and reliability. See also Jaurequi v. Carter Mfg. Co., 173 F.3d 1076, 1082-83 (8th Cir. 1999) (citing Fed. R. Evid. 702). 6 In this case, the district court's application of the Daubert factors to the testimony regarding the proposed guard was within its discretion. Gumz proposed to testify that the freezer was unreasonably dangerous without a mesh safety guard, which would attach with duct tape to the freezer wall. The plaintiffs argue that because Gumz's testimony regarding the safety guard involved principles of engineering, not novel scientific issues, the district court erred in applying the Daubert factors in determining its admissibility. We have previously rejected such an argument, however, concluding that the law grants the trial judge broad latitude to determine whether the Daubert factors are, or are not, reasonable measures of reliability in a particular case. Jaurequi, 173 F.3d at 1082 (quoting Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 119 S. Ct. 1167, 1176 (1999)) (internal quotation marks omitted). 7 Upon application of the Daubert factors to the testimony in this case, it is clear that the district court also did not abuse its discretion in excluding Gumz's testimony. As in other cases in which expert testimony on alternative design was excluded, see, e.g. Pestel v. Vermeer Mfg. Co., 64 F.3d 382, 384 (8th Cir. 1995), the district court found that the expert testimony lacked sufficient indicia of reliability. Reviewing Gumz's deposition testimony carefully, we note that there was no indication that Gumz had analyzed how the proposed safety guard would interact with the freezer's proper functioning. Further, it appears that Gumz's mesh insertion would violate government and industry design standards, which require a sanitary, easily cleanable surface, rather than one that allows the growth of mold and bacteria. (Jt. App. at 60).
8 The plaintiffs contend that even if Gumz's testimony is inadmissible, the district court erred in granting Hussman summary judgment. We cannot agree, because the plaintiffs have failed to produce evidence that the freezer was unreasonably dangerous. As the manufacturer has designed it, the buildup of frost prevents any significant risk of injury from frostbite. 9 Under Iowa law, recovery for a design defect under either a strict liability or negligence theory requires proof of unreasonable danger. Chown v. USM Corp., 297 N.W.2d 218, 220 (Iowa 1980). The Iowa courts have used both a consumer expectations and a risk/utility test in defining what constitutes an unreasonable danger. See Fell v. Kewannee Farm Equip. Co., 457 N.W.2d 911 (Iowa 1990). 10 Based on the record before us, the plaintiffs have not demonstrated any such unreasonable danger inherent in the design of the freezer. Although Iowa law does not appear to require expert testimony for recovery in a products liability action, the plaintiff must supply sufficient evidence to satisfy the trial court that the jury, with its common knowledge, could reasonably find an alternative design to be practical and feasible. See Wernimont v. International Harvestor Corp., 309 N.W.2d 137, 141 (Iowa App. 1981). 11 Here, even if Gumz's testimony had been admitted, the plaintiffs did not have sufficient evidence to create a fact issue as to whether such an alternative design was feasible. The freezer was designed to be used with a protective frost overlay. With this frost buildup, there was no significant risk of injury. Therefore, the district court properly granted Hussman summary judgment on the design-defect claims.