Opinion ID: 1292645
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: retailer liability

Text: The Hoopeses argue that despite being retailers, Farmers Equipment, Inc., had sufficient knowledge of the alleged design defect of the John Deere 8820 combine to be held strictly liable, and that the trial court, therefore, erred in granting Farmer's motion for summary judgment. I.C. § 6-1407(1) provides that product sellers other than manufacturers shall not be held subject to liability in circumstances where they do not have a reasonable opportunity to inspect the product in a manner which would or should, in the exercise of reasonable care, reveal the existence of the defective condition which is in issue... . It is undisputed that Farmers is a product seller other than a manufacturer within the meaning of I.C. § 6-1407(1) and had nothing to do with the design or manufacture of the 8820 combine. Farmers was merely the product's seller. Therefore, Farmers may be liable under the Act only if one of the following events occurred: 1) Farmers made express warranties concerning the design of the combine's braking system that were inconsistent with those made by Deere and John Deere; 2) Farmers had a reasonable opportunity to inspect the braking system and should have discovered alleged defect; 3) Farmers had reason to know of the alleged defect; 4) Farmers altered, modified, or installed the system causing the injury. The Hoopeses have not alleged that Farmers either made express warranties or altered, modified, or installed the braking system. Therefore, the only issues are whether Farmers knew, or should have known, of the alleged defect. In making this determination, we rely on the facts set forth in the affidavit of LaVar Grover because, as the trial court correctly stated: The facts set forth in the affidavit of LaVar Grover are not disputed or opposed in any way by the plaintiffs. Therefore, the court relies upon these undisputed facts in ruling on Farmers' motion for summary judgment. See I.R.C.P. Rule 56(e). At the time the combine was delivered, Farmers performed a visual inspection to insure that the combine, and all of its necessary component parts, had been delivered, and had not suffered any damage in shipment. As LaVar Grover explained in his affidavit: Farmers ... does not have the expertise or technical or engineering personnel to perform an inspection of any John Deere 8820 combine which would reveal the presence or possible existence of a design defect in the braking system; rather, Farmers ... relies exclusively upon the technical and safety expertise of John Deere and Deere for the design and manufacture of all John Deere farm equipment which it sells; therefore, even if the absence of a park lock mechanism in the transmission of the combine constituted a defect in said combine neither I nor any of the officers, agents or employees of Farmers had the technical training or expertise to discover such a defect. Based on these facts, the trial court correctly ruled that: Farmers; inspection of the combine in question could not reveal the existence of a defective condition in the combine in question from the lack of a park lock mechanism because the undisputed evidence before the court establishes that the said combine had an adequate park brake system which would effectively control the movement of the combine if properly activated. The Hoopeses suggests that since LaVar Grover was aware that the combine did not have a park lock mechanism, Farmers had the requisite knowledge of the alleged defect. This assertion is based on LaVar Grover's deposition. However, further examination of that testimony indicates that LaVar Grover was completely unaware of any possible design defects in the braking systems of the John Deere 8820 combines. Therefore, as a product seller other than a manufacturer Farmers is immune from the Hoopeses' product liability suit. Under Idaho law a plaintiff who brings a cause of action based on warranty, negligence, or strict products liability, has the burden of proving a defect. See Henderson v. Cominco Am., Inc., 95 Idaho 690, 696, 518 P.2d 873 (1973); McBride v. Ford Motor Co., 105 Idaho 753, 762, 673 P.2d 55 (1984). As noted by the trial court, the combine was equipped with park brakes which were properly adjusted and fully operational at the time it was delivered; and the park brakes effectively prevented the combine from moving forward or backward when activated. These park brakes eliminate any potential design defect claimed by the Hoopeses. Accordingly, even if Farmers were not immune under the Product Liability Reform Act, they are still entitled to summary judgment since the Hoopeses completely failed to address the significance of the park brakes. Decision of the district court is affirmed. Motion for attorney fees denied. Costs to respondents. BAKES, C.J., and JOHNSON, BOYLE, JJ., concur.