Opinion ID: 735718
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The warranty instruction

Text: 10 Meenach argues that the district court erred in denying proposed instruction # 4, which covered the breach of implied and express warranties. In court, the district judge stated two reasons for not giving the instruction: (1) that Rita Meenach lacked privity with GMC; and (2) that the warranty instruction was subsumed in the other instructions. In its written order denying Meenach's post-trial motion, the court reasserted the privity problem with respect to implied warranties and stated that the request for an instruction on express warranties was untimely. 11 Meenach's complaint alleged a breach of implied warranties but did not allege a breach of express warranties. In the circumstances, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant an instruction on express warranties. 12 As to implied warranties, Meenach argues that under Williams v. Fulmer, 695 S.W.2d 411 (Ky.1985), and Burke Enterprises, Inc. v. Mitchell, 700 S.W.2d 789 (Ky.1985), the district court erred in holding that the warranty instruction was subsumed. While these cases state that whether a product is defective has different elements under negligence, under strict liability in tort, and under breach of warranty, Williams, 695 S.W.2d at 414; Burke, 700 S.W.2d at 792, they do not address the question of whether an instruction for breach of warranty can be considered subsumed in other instructions. At most, the error, if any, must be considered harmless in view of the jury's specific findings both that GMC was not negligent and that the car was not defective and unreasonably dangerous. In all events, we agree with the district court's conclusion that the proposed instruction was subsumed in the actual instructions. 2 13 We also agree with the district court that Rita Meenach and GMC lacked privity. Kentucky courts have held that privity exists only between the seller and the first buyer. Williams, 695 S.W.2d at 414. The only evidence in the record about Dickison's car's pedigree is her testimony that the car had been previously owned. Although the district court based its finding of lack of privity on other grounds, we agree that lack of privity was a proper alternative basis for denying the warranty instruction.