Opinion ID: 2149776
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Genuine Issues of Material Fact Exist Regarding Whether U-Haul Center Had a Duty to Warn Shari

Text: Whether a duty exists under § 388 is a question of law, which depends on several factual determinations. In a case involving a lessor of a crane, the North Dakota Supreme Court stated that a fact finder should resolve the following factual issues in deciding whether a duty to warn arose: (1) For what use was the chattel supplied? (2) Was the chattel dangerous or likely to be dangerous for that use? (3) Did the supplier know or have reason to know of the danger? and (4) Did the supplier have no reason to believe that those who would use the chattel would realize its dangerous condition? [24] The duty also depends on whether Shari was a person whom U-Haul Center should expect to use the truck or expect to be endangered by using the truck. Here, there exist general issues of material fact. The record shows that Shari and the Carstens were using the truck for movingits intended use. U-Haul Center has a regular practice of providing warnings like handbooks and warning labels on the trucks. This implies that the truck was dangerous for its intended use and that U-Haul Center knew of the danger. Nothing in the record suggests that Shari would realize the dangerous condition absent a warning. Further, U-Haul Center could expect that persons other than the lessee would help in the move, and therefore, use the truck. Viewing the record in the light most favorable to the Ericksons, we conclude that genuine issues of material fact still exist before the trial court can determine whether, as a matter of law, U-Haul had a duty to warn Shari. The district court erred in sustaining U-Haul Center's motion for summary judgment.