Opinion ID: 1117922
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Tell's Arguments in Opposition to Terex's Motion for a Summary Judgment

Text: Tell argues that Terex was not entitled to a summary judgment on her AEMLD claims. As the nonmovant at the summary-judgment stage, Tell argues that the evidence, when construed in her favor, as it must be, Fincher v. Robinson Bros. Lincoln-Mercury, Inc., 583 So.2d 256 (Ala. 1991), indicates that the dumptruck malfunctioned in some respect. She also argues that there are multiple safer, alternative designs for the dumptruck, which would have prevented the malfunction from occurring or would have avoided the need for Zeigler to have been working in the path of the bed of the dumptruck. Additionally, Tell argues that the evidence does not establish that Zeigler put himself in danger's way and does not establish that Zeigler consciously appreciated the danger he faced from his position in relation to the raised bed of the dumptruck at the moment the accident occurred, both of which are required to establish contributory negligence as a matter of law. Tell argues that the evidence establishes the following in support of her argument that the dumptruck malfunctioned and that Zeigler was not contributorily negligent: that the dumptruck being driven by Zeigler suffered recurring brake problems; that on the day Zeigler was killed, he was attempting to check his brakes by refilling the brake-fluid reservoir and resetting the brake-overstroke sensor, which required him to be positioned under the raised bed of the dumptruck; that Zeigler left the raised bed of the dumptruck in the hold position when he went under the dumptruck bed and that in the hold position the bed of the dumptruck should have remained in the same position as Zeigler had left it; and, that, for some unexplained reason, the bed of the dumptruck collapsed or lowered itself while Zeigler was beneath the dumptruck preparing to check on the brakes. Tell argues that this evidence leads to the inference that the dumptruckbed control malfunctioned in some way because it did not remain in the hold position. Tell also argues that because there were no other reported incidents of the bed of the dumptruck lowering itself when it had been left in the hold position, Zeigler could not have appreciated the danger he faced at the moment of his death. Tell also points out that, some time after Zeigler's accident, a mechanic employed with Cowin Equipment Company, the company responsible for maintaining and servicing the dumptruck, tested a hydraulic-control valve from the dumptruck operated by Zeigler and found it to be defective. Because of this defect, the hydraulic-control valve was removed from the dumptruck involved in this incident a year after Zeigler's accident. [2] Tell asserts that the existence of the defective hydraulic-control valve supports her claim that the dumptruck malfunctioned on the day of Zeigler's accident. Tell also relies on her expert's opinion that the design of the dumptruck allowed employees poor access to the hydraulic-brake-fluid reservoir and to the brake-overstroke sensor. Additionally, Tell's expert testified that the design of the body-safety prop on the Terex dumptruck was defective and dangerous because, he said, it requires the operator to place his arm or entire body under the dump bed of the truck and to reach from a dangerous position standing between the tires in order to set it. It also cannot be set unless the dump bed is almost completely raised, making an operator vulnerable if the dump bed is not completely raised and rendering it completely ineffective in such an instance. Tell's expert testified that the dumptruck should have been designed so that the hydraulic-brake-fluid reservoir, the brake-overstroke sensor, and the body-safety prop were in a location in which it would be safer to maintain or use them. Additionally, Tell points out that witnesses reported seeing an unopened can of brake fluid next to the dumptruck where Zeigler was found. Tell argues that, because the body-safety prop is located underneath the bed of the dumptruck, and because Zeigler was found directly on top of the body-safety prop and an unopened can of brake fluid was found next to the truck, it is possible that Zeigler was attempting to set the body-safety prop so that he could check the brakes when the bed controls malfunctioned, causing the bed of the dumptruck to come down unexpectedly on Zeigler.