Opinion ID: 2315901
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Negligent Installation of a Piping Elbow

Text: Wellington appears to concede that it failed to produce sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Capital Fire was negligent in installing a piping elbow in the fire protection system. Wellington contends, however, that the referee should have applied the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur to make up for the lack of evidence of negligence. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is applicable where (i) there has been an unexplained accident, (ii) the instrument that caused the injury was under the management or control of the defendant and (iii) in the ordinary course of events, the accident would not have happened absent negligence on the part of the defendant. Parker v. Harriman, 516 A.2d 549, 551 (Me.1986); Ginn v. Penobscot Co., 334 A.2d 874, 878 (Me.1975). If the plaintiff is able to produce evidence establishing each element of the doctrine, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant who must demonstrate the absence of negligence. Wellington presented no evidence to show that piping elbows are unlikely to burst absent negligence in their installation. Indeed, the record contains ample evidence indicating that frozen pipes could have caused the elbow to rupture. Capital Fire presented testimony indicating its concern about the lack of heat in the crawl spaces provided for the sprinkler system and Wellington does not dispute that it bears the responsibility of keeping the crawl space heated. Given that the rupture occurred in November, it is not unreasonable to conclude that frozen pipes were in fact responsible. Clearly, this accident could have happened in the absence of negligence on the part of Capital Fire. The burden of proof on the issue of negligence correctly remained with Wellington and the referee committed no error in concluding that Wellington failed to carry its burden of proof. The entry is: Judgment affirmed. All concurring.