Opinion ID: 2072347
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Substantial Alteration

Text: Next, the defendant argues that its evidence of substantial alteration of the tire was not required to be pled as an affirmative defense and was relevant to the issue of a manufacturing defect. As previously stated, an element of the plaintiff's case involves proving that the defective condition of the product existed at the time the product left the manufacturer's control. ( Hunt, 74 Ill.2d at 210, 23 Ill.Dec. 574, 384 N.E.2d 368; Suvada, 32 Ill.2d at 623, 210 N.E.2d 182.) A defendant's claim of substantial alteration to a product is not a new matter which, assuming the complaint to be true, constitutes a defense to it. Rather, it denies that an unreasonably dangerous condition of the product existed when it left the manufacturer's control. Thus, the deteriorated condition of the tire at the time of the accident was not an affirmative matter which the defendant was required to plead. Additionally, we find that evidence relating to a substantial alteration in the condition of a product is relevant in determining whether the plaintiff has met his or her burden of proof with respect to the existence of the manufacturing defect. It is recognized that where a substantial alteration is made to the product, it may defeat the plaintiff's claim that the defective condition existed at the time it left the manufacturer's control. See Gowler v. Ferrell-Ross Co. (1990), 206 Ill.App.3d 194, 201, 150 Ill.Dec. 646, 563 N.E.2d 773; Augenstine v. Dico Co. (1985), 135 Ill.App.3d 273, 276, 90 Ill.Dec. 314, 481 N.E.2d 1225; Gasdiel v. Federal Press Co. (1979), 78 Ill.App.3d 222, 227, 33 Ill.Dec. 517, 396 N.E.2d 1241. Here, the defendant contends that the tread separation was not due to a manufacturing defect, but rather was attributable to an impact and repairs to the tire that damaged the adhesion in the tire. We find such evidence relating to the condition of the tire prior to the accident to be relevant to the issue of whether the tire had undergone substantial alterations. Based upon the foregoing, we conclude that the evidence of Todd's speed, braking, steering and the substantial alterations to the tire was relevant to the defendant's denial of plaintiff's claim and therefore properly admitted. Additionally, we find that it was not against the manifest weight of the evidence for the jury to find in favor of the defendant. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the appellate court and affirm the judgment of the circuit court, which entered judgment in favor of the defendant. Appellate court reversed; circuit court affirmed.